Calls for Victoria to give four-day work week to some public servants

The call has been met with some backlash, with both the government and opposition shutting the proposal down almost immediately.

Under the plan, the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) claims public servants would work reduced hours with the expectation they maintain the same workload as before.

CPSU Federal Secretary Karen Batt told 9News that the program would boost productivity among workers.

“We have a huge attrition rate and there are a large number of vacancies,” she said.

“We are asking people to consider an alternative way of working, giving people back some time and piloting an option for a four-day working week.”

Premier Daniel Andrews dismissed the idea.

“No, I don’t think a four-day week’s the answer,” Andrews told reporters.

“I think will be different for every worker, every business.”

Opposition Leader Matthew Guy agreed and said the working week would not be changing if the Liberals are elected.

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“Monday to Friday is the working week and I don’t have any plans to change that,” he told reporters.

“The vast majority of its members probably don’t want to pay tax and probably want free beer too but that is not going to happen either so let’s be frank about it.”

Batt said the government’s reaction was disappointing.

“We have huge attrition rates, huge absenteeism and the workload is unsustainable,” she said.

“It is unsustainable because we’ve had a massive growth in population and the demands on the workforce have been at a breaking point.

“The working week for some of those people (in the public sector) is 16 and 18 hours. Often without overtime. They burn out, they leave.

“That is not a good model for government in terms of retention.”