Murrumbidgee Council to Pilot Four-Day Workweek Starting January 2027

Murrumbidgee Council became the first Australian local government to launch a four-day workweek experiment, set to start in January 2027 and run for 15 months. Employees will maintain a 38-hour schedule across four days, with most services closed on Fridays except the childcare centre, caravan park and on-call essential staff. Council general manager John Scarce highlighted the need for a competitive edge to attract workers in rural NSW and expects productivity gains based on early road-work data.

The council will draft a formal agreement within six months, defining success indicators and a 12-month review point. While 75 % of staff supported the change, community submissions showed about 40 % opposition, citing concerns such as reduced daylight for outdoor tasks. The United Services Union, representing council workers, backs the initiative and points to positive outcomes from similar trials overseas.