Murrumbidgee Council Trials 4-Day Work Week

0:00Muram Viji Council, down in southwest New South Wales, is pushing for a four-day work week. Their general manager says staff love the idea of longer shifts from Monday to Thursday, keeping the same total of 35 or 38 hours. They're talking it over with locals now, with a decision coming in the next few months. This setup could save around $1 million in fuel and boost productivity, especially for road crews who log 160 kilometers daily. It is rolled out at offices in places like Darlington Point, Coli Ambally, and Gerritory, plus libraries and depots. But essential services like water, sewer, and animal control stay covered, even on weekends. Experts from Think Tank per capita back it up, pointing to trials where 92% of men and over 60% of women felt healthier. In a global pilot with 70 groups, more than 90% kept the model and bosses saw better staff output. Works evolved since the 38-hour week started over 40 years ago, with tech and mental health

1:02in the mix. Not everything smooth, though. Customer-facing spots face teamwork hurdles, and pay can't get cut. Just this February, Long Keston City Council ditched their plan after pushback from residents. Council leaders are optimistic they'll lead the way, judging success by results like maybe weekly waste pickups instead of fortnightly. It could even help snag more hires in a tough market. After update from Sydney News Today, powered by AI, I'm Corey with The Story.