The ACT (Australian Capital Territory) government will set up a working group to examine the potential for a four-day work week trial, despite some misgivings, reports The Canberra Times (paywall). It says a four-day working week would pose challenges for the ACT's public servants as staff numbers would have to increase to fill rosters. The government has also expressed concern that a shorter work week would not result in a sufficient increase to productivity but has still agreed to consider the possibility of a four-day working week trial.

This working group was recommended by a legislative assembly committee that held a two-year inquiry into the future of the working week. The committee found the ACT government was capable of granting its public servants a four-day working week and was well placed to trial the change. The committee recommended the government convene a working group to examine the trial of a shorter working week for ACT public servants with no loss of pay or conditions.

The government's response, published this week, agreed to this in principle and said a group would consider areas of the public service where a trial could be conducted. "The ACT government will look to setting up a working group in 2024 to develop a roadmap to inform a future trial within the ACTPS (ACT public sector)."

The response also said while the ACT government had a "long history of innovative industrial relations" and recognised the benefits of a four-day working week, it posed challenges. "Whilst productivity may increase, it may not increase sufficiently or with enough longevity to fund the model in the longer term," the response said. "Further, staffing in many frontline areas will most likely have to increase to ensure adequate roster cover and ensure service delivery is maintained."