NSW council proposes permanent four-day workweek for staff
Consensus Summary
Murrumbidgee Council in regional NSW is exploring a permanent four-day workweek for non-essential staff to boost productivity and reduce costs without raising rates. The proposal, led by general manager John Scarce, would compress 35-38 hour weeks into four days (Monday-Thursday) for depot, office, and library staff, saving an estimated $1 million annually through reduced travel and fuel use. Road crews travel an average of 160km daily, and the model aims to cut repeated mobilisation of equipment. Essential services like water, sewerage, and emergency response would remain operational. While Per Capita research cited in ABC shows positive health and productivity outcomes from four-day trials, unions like the ACTU support the model, whereas business groups remain skeptical. Launceston City Council’s recent abandonment of a similar plan due to backlash underscores the challenges. The council’s decision hinges on balancing efficiency gains with staff and community acceptance, with a final vote expected in coming months.
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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, with staff already working a nine-day fortnight model
- The council estimates annual productivity savings of approximately $1 million from reduced travel 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) will remain operational with staff on call
- The council spans nearly 7000 square kilometres and serves towns including Darlington Point, Coleambally, and Jerilderie
- Launceston City Council abandoned a similar four-day week plan in February 2024 due to ratepayer backlash
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
- Per Capita’s global pilot program involved 70 organisations, with over 90% retaining the model post-trial and 96% of employers reporting positive staff performance
- Scarce mentioned the proposal could help recruit staff by addressing waste collection frequency (currently fortnightly) and community demand for weekly collections
- Scarce noted the model would not apply to himself, the childcare centre, or caravan park staff
- Chau highlighted challenges like reduced teamwork and knowledge transfer for customer-facing roles
- The council avoids a special rate variation by focusing on productivity improvements instead of cost-cutting through rates
- Customer service hours (35 hours/week) would be delivered via longer daily opening times under the new model
- ACTU president Michele O’Neil supports shorter weeks, calling them ‘good for both workers and employers’
- Australian Chamber of Commerce CEO Andrew McKellar warns the proposal may ‘put the cart before the horse’ without proven productivity gains
- The proposal is part of long-term financial sustainability planning to maintain services without raising rates
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- ABC reports Per Capita’s trial showed 92% of men and 60.7% of women reported positive health impacts, but NEWSCOMAU does not reference these specific gendered statistics
- ABC states the council’s waste collection is currently fortnightly with community calls for weekly service, while NEWSCOMAU does not mention this specific detail
- ABC highlights Scarce’s claim that the model could help recruit staff by addressing waste collection frequency, but NEWSCOMAU omits this recruitment angle
- NEWSCOMAU emphasizes the council’s commitment to avoiding rate variations as a primary driver, while ABC focuses more on staff retention and productivity gains as key motivations
- ABC includes a direct quote from Scarce about the $1 million savings ‘in the magnitude of around $1 million,’ while NEWSCOMAU states ‘about $1.1m’—a slight numerical discrepancy
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