Latest news with #fourDayWorkWeek
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Aussie four-day work week could be 'accelerated' amid growing trend: '200 hours a year'
Australians in many industries could soon be working one day less each week thanks to artificial intelligence (AI). Large language models (LLMs) and other AI platforms are used every day by millions of workers across the country, and they can lead to a huge boost in productivity. However, questions are being raised about whether it could 'accelerate' the four-day work week trend that's been gathering pace over the last few years. Matt Tindale, managing director at LinkedIn Australia and New Zealand, told Yahoo Finance AI was changing so many ways that we work. 'It's reshaping how we think about work itself," he said. Major city announces four-day work week shift Centrelink $836 cash boost for 'very real' truth facing thousands of Aussies ATO issues July 1 warning to Aussies waiting on $1,500 tax refunds "We're likely to see continued growth in entrepreneurship, emerging small businesses and flexible careers that reflect a more fluid, empowered workforce. 'The widespread accessibility of knowledge through AI is transforming how talent drives economic growth." LinkedIn found four in five Aussies supported a four-day work week, and Tindale said AI was helping workers and employers look at their output as 'outcomes delivered' rather than a certain number of hours Reuters' Future of Professionals Report found AI tools could save some professionals up to 200 hours a year. Fundraising platform Raisely jumped on the trend in 2022, and chief customer officer Jordan Maitland told Yahoo Finance it's been made much easier by adopting the latest technology. 'Life is busy, and with AI we're able to get so much more done, which is almost at the expense of your people and you're almost getting too much done in five days that people are easily burning out,' she said. 'With all the technology and better ways of working, reward your people for that and let them have that day off and come back more energised. 'Otherwise, if we're working at this pace, five days a week, you're going to have continuous burnout and continuous turnover.' Swinburne University of Technology Associate Professor John Hopkins has been closely studying this new work trend and told Yahoo Finance there was no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to the four-day work week. He explained every business would have to sort out which departments and staff would benefit from it the most and which would be most adaptable to working one day less per week. Hopkins admitted new tech like LLMs could help usher in that change. "AI does save time, so it has the potential to take hours out of a working week and support a shorter working week for employees," he said. "It'll address particularly repetitive tasks and things that would normally take a lot longer, and complete those pretty well and fairly accurately." But he wasn't fully convinced of a purely AI-led charge helping companies realise their four-day work week potential. "It's a huge question," he mused. "We don't fully understand the potential of AI yet. I don't think anybody does. It's still relatively early days. I think some companies are doing some quite exciting work with it, but I think the big impact is still to come." His hesitation lies in how other technological advancements like the internet and computers affected workers' output. These helped produce far more productivity for millions of people across Australia, however, they didn't lead to a shorter working week. 'We're, in fact, working longer hours now than we did 100 years ago when the five-day week was introduced because the technologies that we have in our pockets means that we finish at five o'clock and you're already working before 9am and we're working at weekends and evenings or holidays,' he said. Hopkins added that employers could just as easily keep the current setup and squeeze even more productivity and outcomes from workers. Those who are testing the new trend have seen some incredible results so far. Medibank has noticed it has helped cut down on unnecessary meetings and workloads as staff felt more committed to getting everything done in the new timeframe. Staff reported being 4.5 per cent more satisfied with their job and 6.7 per cent were more engaged with their day-to-day tasks. The shortened week also helped these employees be more willing to go "above and beyond" their normal duties. Overall health improved by 16 per cent, work-life balance and sleep jumped 30 per cent each, and unhealthy eating plunged 17.5 per cent. For Maitland's company, their trial found there was not a single drop in productivity. It actually went the other way, with a 10.1 per cent improvement. Staff also reported their work-life balance improved by nearly 18 per cent, along with increased energy levels. In a LinkedIn survey of 2,000 Aussie professionals, an overwhelming 77 per cent supported moving to a shorter week, and 82 per cent of HR staffers in a separate study said the same. It could be 20 per cent fewer hours per week with the same pay, or even a reduced salary. Others have suggested 10-hour work days, instead of the usual eight, to ensure the same amount of weekly work gets done, just with one day less. Recent research also found nearly three-quarters (74 per cent) of AI users in Australia utilise it for work. They're using it to help with writing (75 per cent), brainstorming (69 per cent), problem-solving (70 per cent), and to digest or simplify lengthy documents (68 per cent) or complex information (60 per cent). Hopkins told Yahoo Finance the key to ushering in a four-day work week was really analysing whether you can cut down on certain tasks that eat up your time. Some of the companies he has interviewed said they trialled the trend to address productivity issues, others did it to keep and attract the best talent. Whatever it was, they all had a reason to do it. But Hopkins admitted it's not a simple task to bring it in. 'Moving to a four-day week takes preparation. It takes a pilot. There has to be a transition to it, and training and everything else,' he said. 'There may be a trimming of work, or becoming more lean in terms of things that you do, maybe reducing the number of meetings.' But he also believed that, with enough time, it would become a reality for millions.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Major city announces four-day work week shift
Dubai has announced a four-day work week and shorter working hours for all its public sector workers. It's the latest major global city to embrace the move towards a shorter working week in a bid to improve work-life balance for workers, with many companies in Australia also jumping on the trend. The temporary change will run from July 1 until September 12, 2025, as part of the government's 'Our Flexible Summer' initiative. It follows a successful initial trial scheme in 2024, which found improved productivity and employee satisfaction. Government employees will be split into two groups. The first group will work for eight hours from Monday until Thursday and get Friday off. The second group will work for seven hours from Monday until Thursday, and work four-and-a-half hours on Friday. RELATED Major 'roadblock' to Australia ushering in a four-day work week revealed Centrelink $836 cash boost for 'very real' truth facing thousands of Aussies ATO issues July 1 warning to Aussies waiting on $1,500 tax refunds Abdullah Ali bin Zayed Al Falasi, Director General of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said the government was aiming to balance institutional efficiency and workers' wellbeing. 'This initiative demonstrates our firm commitment to enhancing the government work environment, making it more adaptable and responsive to the needs of employees and the community,' he said. While the policy won't apply to private sector workers, there have been calls from the Dubai and UAE governments to bring in more remote and flexible hours across the April, Tokyo implemented a four-day work week for metropolitan government employees in a bid to boost record-low fertility rates. Some 200 companies across the United Kingdom have also permanently implemented a four-day work week following trials with 4 Day Week Foundation. That included charities, marketing, technology, IT and software, and consulting firms. In Australia, high-profile companies like Medibank and Bunnings have trialled the change. Companies will commonly implement a 100:80:100 model, where employees keep 100 per cent of their pay, have their work hours reduced to 80 per cent, but have to maintain 100 per cent of their productivity. Thrive Nation chief disruptor Christian Miran told Yahoo Finance Australian companies were 'ready' for the shift. The work revolution architect previously worked at Medibank and led the insurer's four-day work week trial. 'Australia is really prime for this now. This is the next wave of understanding of how we could be more productive,' he said. Recent research conducted by Swinburne University of Technology involved interviews with 10 Australian firms that had adopted the 100:80:100 model. It found the potential for positive outcomes from employers and employees. Workers reported having better work-life balance and more time for life admin, hobbies, exercise, wellness and self-care. Bosses, on the other hand, cited productivity gains, reduced sick days and significant improvements in recruitment and retention rates. Researchers noted there were still doubts over productivity and output being maintained. It also noted there could be costs associated with in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data
The National
15-06-2025
- Business
- The National
Dubai announces four-day working week for government employees over summer
The Dubai Government has announced a four-day working week with shorter daily hours for many government staff this summer. Employees will be divided into two groups. The first will work eight hours from Monday to Thursday with Friday as a full holiday, while the second will work seven hours from Monday to Thursday and work a half-day on Fridays. The initiative will run from July 1 to September 12. It follows a pilot plan last summer, launched by the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, called Our Summer is Flexible. Staff were asked to fill out a survey on summer working hours, and proposals to cut office time in August and September received great support. The human resources department monitored observations and feedback, concluding that the pilot was successful enough to run for another year. Abdullah Al Falasi, director general of the Dubai Government Human Resources Department, said of the pilot: 'We aim to improve the quality of life of employees and enhance the sustainability of government resources, which ultimately contributes to consolidating Dubai's global position as a preferred city for living and working by providing a new model experience that integrates the elements of quality of life.' A growing trend? Sharjah introduced a four-day working week in 2022, after the UAE government switched to a four-and-half day week in January that year. The biggest trial of a four-day working week took place in the UK in 2022. Afterwards, most of the 61 companies involved pledged to continue with the policy, while a third said they had switched to the new model permanently. None of the 2,900 trial participants wanted to return to a five-day week and all the companies involved reported lower stress and better health among employees.
Independent Singapore
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Independent Singapore
Weekends too short? How Singaporeans feel about a 4-day work week
SINGAPORE: A local Reddit user wanted to know how others in Singapore feel about a four-day work week, adding that they personally find that weekends are too short. In a Jun 8 (Sunday) thread on r/askSingapore, u/Adventurous_sushii asked if others on the platform would feel more well-rested if the working week were one day shorter. With the current set-up, having only a two-day weekend is insufficient, since the post author wants ' to rest + do the things I want + catch up on admin and household chores at home.' However, they were uncertain whether others felt the same way, but added that last year, when more three-day weekends allowed them to take Mondays off, they found that they felt 'better mentally' when they returned to work. By far, the top comment is one where a Reddit user wrote, 'Only if it's really a 4-day work week.' In workaholic Singapore, it's not unusual for people to engage in work-related activities even when they're out of the office, such as taking calls, responding to emails, and writing reports. Other countries, meanwhile, such as Australia, have introduced the 'right to disconnect,' which means workers are allowed to let work calls or emails go unanswered. Moreover, employers who breach the law may potentially be subject to fines. In 2020, Member of Parliament Melvin Yong (Radin Mas) called for the government to consider a similar 'Right to Disconnect' legislation. 'Let me reassure critics that I am not calling for rigid laws that specify working hours, nor am I calling for Singaporeans to be less productive, and certainly not for Singapore to be any less competitive,' he said at the time, adding, 'It is simply about ensuring that our workers have protected time to rest.' On Reddit, one commenter wrote, 'I had the arrangement for a 4-day work week, but my customers kept contacting me on the 5th day, and I couldn't ignore it. Ended up returning to a five-day work week.' 'As a teacher, much of my weekends are currently dedicated to marking assignments, doing lesson prep for the following week, and other miscellaneous odds and ends. We had a couple of extra Monday holidays in May, and I can vouch that the extra day has been invaluable in letting me get my work done, while still having more time to myself. The three days don't even need to be back-to-back. Just a little added break from the daily grind would be much appreciated,' another weighed in. 'Totally agree. I feel that life is more balanced with a four-day work week, honestly. With two days of rest, the first day, I would need to spend half a day doing housework and still recovering from the five work days. Sunday is the only actual day I feel like an off day, but yet you think of tomorrow, needing to work again, spoils it all, and being tired again, but if Monday is off, you feel like you got a real full two days to recover,' a commenter added. /TISG Read also: The four-day work week dream
News.com.au
03-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Multi-millionaire brands four-day work week the ‘stupidest idea I've ever heard'
A Canadian businessman and multi-millionaire has fired up at the suggestion of a four-day work week being widely adopted, swiftly branding the idea 'stupid' during an interview. Kevin O'Leary, known for his role as one of the investors on the program Shark Tank, didn't hold back when sharing his thoughts during a recent appearance on Fox News. 'There is a big push now for a four day work week, do you think we will become like the French?' one of the presenters asked. The four-day work week is becoming increasingly popular in France, with the country launching it's first official pilot of the program in 2024. In 2000, the country also legally mandated a 35-hour work week, with any hours worked beyond this considered overtime. In 2023, the France's Labor Ministry announced that around 10,000 employees were already working under a four-day model. France isn't the only country where the four-day movement is growing, with pilots taking place all over the world in recent years, including Australia. However, Mr O'Leary is not convinced by the working model's increased popularity. 'That's the stupidest idea I have ever heard,' he said. 'I think we should let the French go to a two-day work week and then kick their arse internationally.' The outspoken businessman claimed that in our post-pandemic world and new digital economy, there is 'no such thing as a work week' anymore. But this isn't to say Mr O'Leary thinks a traditional five-day work week is the answer either, with the multi-millionaire taking a more outcome focused approach. 'Look at my staff, 40 per cent of them work remotely all around the world,' he said. For example, if a project is due by June 15, then he doesn't care how many days a week his staff work, so long as the work is done on time. The businessman's brutal assessment sparked a heated debate, with many defending the four-day work model. One person claimed the 'best job' they ever had operated on a four-day work week, claiming their quality of life went up and they had time to study and upskill. 'I have a four-day work week. I can't express the difference in how much better my work week is given one extra day to decompress,' another said. One added: 'I have been running my company on a four-day work week for a few years now. I can't imagine going back to a five-day week.' However, there were others who agreed with Mr O'Leary's point of view. 'I couldn't agree more with you! I think that is so stupid!' one said. 'The people who want a four-day work week should start their own company,' another claimed. Another agreed, saying the focus should be on getting the work done by specific deadlines, with less focus on how many days a week it may take to complete. One of the common ways that companies implement a four-day week is by using the 100:80:100 model, in which staff keep 100 per cent of their pay but have their work hours reduced to 80 per cent. However, they must maintain 100 per cent of their productivity in order for the change to work. Other options include allowing staff to work a shorter week but for less pay, or offering standard 40 hour weeks condensed over four days. This isn't the first time Mr O'Leary has shared his opinion on divisive workplace topics. In August last year he raged at the Australian government following the introduction of the Right To Disconnect law. The law gives employees the right to refuse contact outside of their working hours. Staff are not required to monitor, read, or respond to contact from an employer or third party – within reason. The change left Mr O'Leary baffled. 'What happens if you have an event in the office and it is closed? Or you have an emergency room somewhere and you have to get of hold of them at 2am in the morning because it affects the job they are on,' he told Fox News at the time. 'This kind of stuff just makes me crazy. It is so dumb. Who dreams this crap up? Why would anyone propose such a stupid idea?' He added that he would 'fire' an employee if they ignored his calls and didn't get back to him. Doubling down in a lengthy post to X, Mr O'Leary wrote: 'If you can't be reached when the job depends on it, you're out.' 'Who dreams up these ridiculous ideas? If someone tells me they're in 'silent mode,' they're fired,' he said.
