Murrumbidgee Council is exploring the possibility of introducing a four-day work week for staff as part of a plan to improve efficiency and manage increasing financial pressures.
Under the proposed model, Council staff would work a full 35-hour week across four longer days from Monday to Thursday. As a result, Council offices, depots and libraries would be closed on Fridays.
Council General Manager, John Scarce said the proposal is about working smarter while maintaining service levels.
“It’s about thinking outside the box and seeing through our council’s determination to never embark on a special rate variation,” said Mr Scarce.
“This is not about reducing services. It is about delivering the same level of service more efficiently and sustainably.
“Longer days mean more flexible access for residents, while also helping us better manage travel and resources across our Local Government Area.”
The model is expected to deliver productivity savings of around $1.1 million per year by reducing travel time and the need for repeated site set-up. This avoids up to 26 days annually of mobilising and demobilising plant and equipment, with work sites averaging a 160-kilometre round trip from Council depots, the Council said in a statement.
Another benefit is improved responsiveness and consistency in service delivery with more staff available at the same time, rather than spread across rostered days off, it stated.
