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Latest Poll: Less Pay for Shorter Working Week

With the current state of the economy in Australia, new workplace trends are emerging! The new generation of talents entering the workplace is demanding more flexibility, more rest, and less stress. Not only is this REAL, it’s catchy as hell!

So, what’s REALLY important to you? And would you be willing to sacrifice your pay for this perk?

Our latest poll provides some super interesting data with a week to go!

Yep, with the rise of WFH post-COVID, it seems this ‘trend’ has become a hard and fast reality, and the privileges many still demand working away from the office are constant. Are bosses too demanding of us to be in the office more than home? Are we pushed harder at home because they think we are slacking off?

Based on early results of this poll, a “Shorter Working Week” is all the rage—to the extent that many would be willing to swap a pay increase to obtain this dream—that’s how serious it gets.

Since 2022, dozens of countries, including Ireland, Spain, and the UK, have tested a 4-day workweek, with overwhelmingly positive results, and many say that switching to a 4-day workweek improved productivity, morale, and team culture! You can see it as clear as day.

With benefits including having more personal time, which reduces burnout, a boost in life satisfaction is the end goal. Belgium is one country that announced a reform package that gives workers the right to work four days instead of five without losing their salary. The law officially went into effect in November 2022.

Under this scheme, workers are still expected to maintain the same amount of hours over four (longer) days instead of five and would have an extra day off to compensate. Interesting!

Swapping a pay increase for more “Annual Leave” is also tracking highly in our poll, which says to us that we continue to crave a proper work-life balance and flexibility. A day trip on a day off, or an extended weekend and so forth are tangible wins.

So, what would you be willing to swap a pay increase to receive more (or less) of?

Iceberg is Melbourne’s go-to recruitment company! Specialising exclusively in recruiting for digital, marketing, PR, digital, experiential & advertising jobs. Permanent, freelance and contract roles are available! Sign up to our weekly newsletter HERE.