NSW council proposes permanent four-day workweek for staff
Consensus Summary
Murrumbidgee Council in NSW’s Riverina region is exploring a permanent four-day workweek (Monday-Thursday) for non-essential staff to boost productivity and cut costs. The proposal, led by General Manager John Scarce, aims to save around $1 million annually by reducing travel time and fuel use, particularly for road crews averaging 160km daily trips. Both sources confirm the model would exclude essential services like water, sewerage, and emergencies, while ABC adds it could help attract staff and meet community demands for weekly waste collection. Support for the idea varies: unions like the ACTU back shorter weeks for worker well-being, while business groups caution against unproven productivity gains. The council’s decision hinges on balancing efficiency with service sustainability, though Launceston City Council’s recent abandonment of a similar plan due to backlash adds uncertainty. The debate reflects broader national discussions on flexible work arrangements, with rural councils seeking innovative solutions amid funding pressures.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Murrumbidgee Council in regional NSW is proposing a Monday-to-Thursday four-day workweek for depot, office, and library staff
- General Manager John Scarce is leading the proposal, which would compress 35-38 hour weeks into four days (Monday-Thursday)
- The council estimates annual productivity savings of approximately $1 million due to reduced travel time and fuel costs
- Average daily travel for road crews is about 160 kilometres, with round trips averaging 160km for work sites
- Essential services (water, sewerage, animal control, emergencies) would remain operational with staff on call or rostered
- The council spans approximately 7000 square kilometres in the Riverina region, covering towns like Darlington Point, Coleambally, and Jerilderie
- The proposal excludes the general manager, childcare centre, caravan park, and swimming pools from the four-day model
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Wesa Chau (Per Capita) cited a 2023 trial where 92% of men and 60.7% of women reported positive health impacts from a four-day week
- Launceston City Council abandoned a similar four-day week plan in February due to ratepayer and stakeholder backlash
- The council aims to use the model to attract and retain staff, citing difficulty in hiring and community demand for weekly waste collection
- Murrumbidgee Council’s proposal would allow for extended daily opening hours to maintain 35 hours of weekly customer service
- John Scarce noted the four-day week could provide a competitive edge for rural councils in service delivery and staff recruitment
- The proposal is framed as a response to rising costs and expanding responsibilities without additional funding from state/federal governments
- The council estimates 26 annual mobilisations of equipment for work sites averaging 160km round trips, contributing to travel inefficiencies
- ACTU president Michele O’Neil supports shorter working weeks, calling them ‘good for both workers and employers’
- Australian Chamber of Commerce CEO Andrew McKellar warns the four-day week could ‘put the cart before the horse’ without proven productivity gains
- The council emphasizes the model is about ‘delivering the same level of service more efficiently’ rather than reducing services
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports the council’s proposal would allow for weekly waste collection (currently fortnightly), but NEWSCOMAU does not mention this specific service improvement
- ABC highlights Per Capita’s global trial data (96% employer satisfaction) as a key argument, while NEWSCOMAU omits this detail entirely
- NEWSCOMAU frames the proposal as a cost-cutting measure to avoid rate increases, whereas ABC emphasizes staff retention and productivity gains as primary drivers
- ABC states the four-day week would apply to ‘many’ staff already working a nine-day fortnight, while NEWSCOMAU does not specify existing compressed schedules
- NEWSCOMAU mentions swimming pools as an excluded service, but ABC does not mention them—only childcare, caravan park, and essential services
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