An Albury academic who struggled with her mental health when working full time is looking into the benefits of a four-day working week.
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Charles Sturt University research student Simone Hyde is looking for participants for her study that explores how regional organisations are addressing employee wellbeing in relation to overwork and burnout.
The research project titled The enablers and barriers of the four-day work week questions the standard Monday-to-Friday work design and draws on her own experience.
"There are increasing concerns regarding the effects of excessive working hours on the health and safety of regional Australian workers, with evidence suggesting that overwork and bottom-line success are not linked," Ms Hyde said.
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"After being diagnosed with anxiety and depression as a result of previous employment, I'm passionate about mental health and employee wellbeing.
"I could feel myself burning out, but there was no help.
"According to Fair Work Australia, you can only request a reduction in working hours if you are a parent, carer, have a disability, are over 55 years of age or experiencing domestic violence. I didn't fit into any of those categories."
Ms Hyde is an honours student in the Charles Sturt School of Management and Marketing and received the 2020 Institute of Land, Water and Society's Honours Support Scholarship for her project's focus on regional society.
Ms Hyde's research hopes to "promote the normalisation of employees electing to work reduced hours for the purpose of preventing burnout" and "provide regional organisations with realistic considerations and human resource methods, if they wish to implement a four-day work week".
Until the end of February the project is recruiting regional employees who work at least five days a week, to complete a five-minute online survey which can be completed at surveymonkey.com/r/fourdayworkweek
