The four-day work week sounds ideal, but is it realistic for all of us?

Seven decades ago, Australia moved from working six days a week to five. Many of us now think it’s time for an update, with the idea of a four-day work week gaining traction around the word.

A shorter work week has been shown to boost productivity and mental health, but critics argue it’s a 'white-collar fantasy' that’s unrealistic for many industries.

Our host David Karsten is joined by Professor Julia Richardson to explore the pros and cons of a shorter work week, and how likely it is to be implemented in your workplace.

Clarifying the four-day concept [01:09]
Increased efficiency [03.31]
An identity beyond work [06:21]
Long term sustainability concerns [08:41]
Expectations and performance [12:12]
Interpersonal over AI [20:18]

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From the great resignation to the four-day work week (2024)

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Professor Julia Richardson

Professor Julia Richardson is the Head of the School of Management and Marketing at Curtin University and a recognised expert in careers and human resources management.

She has enjoyed a global career in the UK, Singapore, Japan, Indonesia, New Zealand and Canada, and has won multiple awards for her research and teaching. Julia’s current research focuses on the future of careers, career sustainability, and work-life balance.

Join Curtin University

This podcast is brought to you by Curtin University. Curtin is a global university known for its commitment to making positive change happen through high-impact research, strong industry partnerships and practical teaching.

Got any questions, or suggestions for future topics?

Email thefutureof@curtin.edu.au

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Transcript

Read the transcript.

Behind the scenes

Hosts: David Karsten and Celeste Fourie
Writer:Zoe Taylor

Producer:Emilia Jolakoska

Executive producer: Natasha Weeks

First Nations Acknowledgement

Curtin University acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, the First Peoples of this place we call Australia, and the First Nations peoples connected with our global campuses. We are committed to working in partnership with Custodians and Owners to strengthen and embed First Nations’ voices and perspectives in our decision-making, now and into the future.

Curtin University supports academic freedom of speech. The views expressed in The Future Of podcast may not reflect those of Curtin University.

Four-day Work Week: flexibility, productivity and adoption