{
  "id": 59381,
  "title": "52 long weekends a year as council trials four-day work week",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/02/52-long-weekends-a-year-as-council-trials-four-day-work-week",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-02T20:34:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-03/murrumbidgee-council-four-day-working-week/106975192"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Murrumbidgee Council in south-west New South Wales has decided to trial a four-day working week for most of its staff, starting from January. This marks the first time a local council in Australia will implement such a model. The council aims to boost productivity and attract new employees through this initiative, which will last for 15 months. During the trial, employees will work a 38-hour week compressed into four days, while services like the childcare centre and caravan park will remain open on Fridays. Council General Manager John Scarce expects a positive outcome, citing data showing increased productivity in road repair and construction work when compressed into fewer days. The trial's success will be measured using performance indicators, and employees will enjoy 52 long weekends in the coming year. Despite some community members expressing concerns, particularly regarding daylight hours, supporters such as Jody Heath, a local butcher shop owner, have seen success with a similar approach. The United Services Union, which represents council workers in NSW, supports the trial, seeing it as a significant test case in Australia.",
  "summary": "In an Australian first, Murrumbidgee Council staff will get long weekends every week from next year when a four-day working week trial begins.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}