THE WHAT? Following encouraging early results from an 18-month pilot in New Zealand, Unilever is extending its four-day work week to its Australian business.

THE DETAILS Unilever said that the vast majority of the 80 participants in the New Zealand trial found the four-day work week a positive experience but it still had a lot to learn about the potential business impact, which is why the trial is being extended to the larger and more complex Australian market.

The trial will run for 12 months, during which staff will retain 100 percent of their salaries while working 80 percent of the time and delivering 100 percent of business outcomes.

THE WHY? The four-day week is one of the areas the UK-based FMCG giant is exploring as it drives the future of work. In the New Zealand trial, the measure was found to reduce stress by a third, increase strength and vigour at work by 15 percent and more than two-thirds of employees reported a better work-life balance. As Cameron Heath, Managing Director, Unilever New Zealand, explains, “It’s imperative for us to continue to deliver superior business performance, while also meeting the evolving needs and expectations of our thriving workforce.”