Teachers in Australia are asking for a change, and not just any change—a four-day work week. With the government pushing ahead with plans to enshrine work-from-home (WFH) rights, teachers are stepping in with their own proposal: a shorter week to help combat the chronic shortage of school staff. But is this really the answer, or just another well-meaning but impractical idea?
Why the Push for a Four-Day Work Week?
The Victorian education system is currently struggling with a staffing crisis. Hundreds of teaching positions are unfilled, leaving classrooms under-resourced and teachers stretched thin. The Australian Education Union (AEU) argues that to make the teaching profession more appealing, especially to those considering other industries, there needs to be more flexibility built into the system, reports Yahoo Finance.
The union’s proposal is simple enough: a 30.4-hour job-share model, essentially a condensed four-day work week. This would allow teachers to maintain their full-time pay while spreading their hours more evenly throughout the week, with the option to work from home for tasks that don’t require them to be in the classroom. It’s an idea that acknowledges the reality of modern teaching: a lot of the planning, marking, and administrative work doesn’t always need to be done on-site.
The State’s WFH Push: A Double-Edged Sword
Now, the Victorian government is already on track to legislate the right to work from home for jobs that can be done remotely. The government’s push to guarantee WFH rights is being celebrated in many sectors, but for teachers, it’s not as straightforward. After all, a teacher’s job is to be in the classroom with students, right? So, where does the balance lie?
The AEU’s Justin Mullaly pointed out that while it’s great to give workers more flexibility, the unique nature of teaching means that teachers can’t always take advantage of WFH, especially when interacting directly with students. And that’s where their four-day work week idea comes into play. Instead of just hoping to push everything online, the union wants a compromise that keeps kids in school while giving teachers more breathing room.
Looking Beyond the Classroom
Interestingly, the concept of a four-day work week isn’t exclusive to the education sector. In fact, other industries are looking at similar models to combat burnout and improve work-life balance. Tasmania’s Launceston City Council has already reached an agreement to trial a four-day work week, with full pay. If successful, it could serve as a template for other parts of the public sector, including education.
However, there are challenges. The economy and budget constraints are not easily overcome by changes in work structure, and critics worry about the feasibility of such a drastic shift. Teachers and education staff are already underpaid and overworked, and while a shorter week might seem like a good step towards fixing these issues, it’s not a cure-all.
The Bottom Line
A four-day work week for teachers could be a step in the right direction to address staffing shortages and improve working conditions. But whether it’s sustainable or practical in the long run remains to be seen. The government will have to balance flexibility with the needs of students and the education system, making this an ongoing discussion. Teachers, like many workers, are asking for more balance—but how far are we willing to go to give it to them?
