Has Australia trialled the 4-day work week?

Yes. Australia ran a major pilot from November 2022 to April 2023, involving 20 companies and approximately 1,000 employees. 95% of participating businesses chose to continue the model after the trial ended.

What are the standard working hours in Australia?

Australian law caps the standard working week at 38 hours. The average employee works around 36 hours per week, Monday to Friday, with office hours typically running 9am–5pm.

What were the results of Australia's 4-day week trial?

The results were overwhelmingly positive: 64% of employees reported less burnout, sick days fell by 44%, resignation rates dropped 8.6%, and 96% of employees wanted to continue the arrangement. Companies rated the trial 8.2 out of 10.

Australia

Q: How much annual leave are Australian employees entitled to?

Full-time employees in Australia are entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year. Shift workers receive 5 weeks. Unused leave accumulates and carries over to the following year.

4-Day Work Week in Australia: Trials, Results & Work Culture Guide (2025)

Overview

How Australia Embraced the Four-Day Week

In August 2022, Australia took a bold step in redefining work culture by launching a formal pilot program for the four-day working week. Twenty companies joined this inaugural trial, marking a pivotal departure from the traditional five-day schedule that had defined Australian working life for generations.

The model was straightforward yet radical: employees worked 80% of their standard hours while retaining 100% of their salary. Participants ranged widely — from finance firms to fashion houses — united by a willingness to test whether productivity could be maintained on a shorter schedule.

Coordinated as part of a broader global initiative spanning the UK and New Zealand, the Australian trial placed the country at the forefront of a worldwide conversation about the future of work.

80%

Hours worked · 100% pay retained

The "100-80-100" model: 100% of pay, 80% of hours, 100% of output expected.

32.4h

Average hours per week in trial

Compared to the legal maximum of 38 hours and the national average of 36 hours.

Nov 2022

Official pilot launch (ANZ)

The Australasian pilot ran six months through April 2023, covering ~1,000 employees.

Pilot Results

What the Data Actually Showed

The Australasian trial produced some of the most compelling evidence for shorter working weeks ever recorded. Here's what happened across six categories of measurement.

📈

8.2/10

Business Satisfaction

Companies rated the overall trial impact at 8.2/10, with new employee attraction scoring even higher at 8.3/10.

🏥

−44%

Fewer Sick & Personal Days

Sick and personal days fell by 44.3% per employee per month — a dramatic improvement in workforce health.

🔄

−8.6%

Lower Resignation Rate

Average monthly resignation rates fell by 8.6%, reducing costly employee churn during the trial period.

🔥

−64%

Reduction in Burnout

Nearly two-thirds of employees reported significant reductions in burnout, with 38% also feeling less stressed.

⚡

54%

Productivity Improvement

Over half of employees reported an increase in productivity compared to their personal career best — in just four days.

✅

95%

Companies Continued

95% of participating companies chose to continue the four-day model after the trial ended — the clearest possible endorsement.

The Australasian 4-Day Week Global Pilot

Coordinated by 4 Day Week Global as part of a simultaneous international programme, the Australasian pilot is one of the most rigorous real-world experiments in modern labour history. Results were independently analysed and published, providing a solid evidence base for policymakers and employers alike.

Period Nov 2022 – Apr 2023

Companies 20 organisations

Employees ~1,000 workers

Status Completed ✓

Work Culture

Understanding the Australian Work Landscape

Before evaluating a shorter week, it helps to understand the baseline. Australia's labour framework is among the most structured in the Asia-Pacific region.

⏱️ Working Hours

Australian law sets a maximum of 38 hours per week, though the national average sits around 36 hours. Office roles typically run 9am–5pm Monday to Friday; trade occupations often start as early as 7am and finish by 3:30pm. The 4-day week trial compressed this to an average of 32.4 hours.

38h legal max 36h national avg

📜 Overtime & Fair Work

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, any hours worked beyond standard contracted hours must be compensated through additional pay or time off in lieu. Employers cannot force overtime, and rest breaks throughout each shift are a legal entitlement — a foundation that makes shorter-week arrangements legally straightforward to implement.

Fair Work Act 2009 Overtime entitlements

🏖️ Annual Leave

Full-time employees are entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year, accruing throughout the year. Shift workers receive a fifth week. Unused leave rolls over, and public holidays falling during leave periods are not deducted. This generous baseline sits comfortably alongside a four-day schedule.

20 days annual leave Accrues year-round

💻 Remote & Flexible Work

Remote working in Australia accelerated sharply during the pandemic, jumping from 32.2% in 2019 to 40.6% in 2021. Professionals lead this shift — two-thirds worked remotely as of August 2021. This existing flexibility has made the cultural transition to a four-day week considerably smoother for knowledge-work industries.

37% remote workers (2023) +8.4pp since 2019

👥 Part-Time Workforce

Australia has one of the highest rates of part-time employment in the developed world. The share of part-time workers grew from just 15.7% in 1980 to 31.7% by 2020 — with women making up 68.5% of that group. This normalises flexible hours as a broad cultural expectation, not an exception.

31.7% part-time (2020) 68.5% are women

🌱 Environmental Impact

The four-day week delivered measurable environmental benefits during the trial. Commute time fell by an average of 36 minutes per person per week, and 42% of employees took up more environmentally conscious activities during their additional free day — an unexpected but welcome outcome for sustainability.

−36 min commute/week 42% greener habits

Key Statistics

Australia at a Glance

Data from the OECD Better Life Index and Australian Bureau of Statistics, updated 2023–2025.

OECD Work-Life Balance (out of 10)

7.2

Remote Work Rate

37%

Part-Time Employment Share

31.7%

Trial Companies Continuing (post-pilot)

95%

Employees Wanting to Continue

96%

Government Position

Moderate — and Growing — Official Support

Australia's government has moved cautiously but positively toward shorter working weeks at the institutional level.

ACT The Australian Capital Territory government announced a public sector four-day week trial — one of the first governments in Oceania to formally test the model.
Senate A federal Senate Committee formally recommended trialling the four-day week across the Australian Public Service — a significant institutional endorsement that signals potential legislative change.

Moderate

Government Support Level

Growing Momentum

ACT public sector trials announced. Federal Senate Committee recommends wider APS pilots. National dialogue advancing.

FAQ

Common Questions Answered

Has Australia officially trialled the 4-day work week?

Yes. Australia's first formal pilot ran from November 2022 to April 2023, involving 20 companies and approximately 1,000 employees. The trial was part of the broader 4 Day Week Global programme, which ran simultaneous pilots in the UK and New Zealand. After the six-month pilot, 95% of companies chose to continue the model permanently.

What are the legal working hours in Australia?

Australian law, under the Fair Work Act 2009, sets a maximum of 38 ordinary hours per week. The national average sits around 36 hours. Employers cannot legally compel workers to exceed these limits, and any additional hours must be compensated through overtime pay or equivalent time off.

How much annual leave do Australian employees receive?

Full-time employees in Australia are legally entitled to 4 weeks (20 days) of paid annual leave per year. Shift workers receive 5 weeks. Leave accrues continuously throughout the year and rolls over if unused. Employees are also entitled to paid public holidays, which do not count against their annual leave balance.

Did the 4-day week improve productivity in Australia?

The data strongly suggests it did. Companies rated productivity at 7/10 and performance at 6.8/10 during the trial. More strikingly, over 54% of employees reported productivity levels exceeding their personal career best — achieved in just four working days per week. Output was maintained across all participating organisations.

What were the health benefits of the Australian trial?

The health improvements were substantial. 64% of employees reported less burnout, 38% felt less stressed, and sick days fell by 44.3%. Workers also reported improvements in mental health, with 62% noting an increase in positive emotions and nearly half reporting fewer negative emotions. Exercise frequency also rose during the trial period.

What is the government's position on the 4-day work week in Australia?

The Australian government's position is one of moderate and growing support. The ACT government announced a formal public sector four-day week trial, and a federal Senate Committee has recommended piloting the model across the Australian Public Service. While national legislation has not yet changed, the political environment is increasingly favourable.