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Now in the second year of its four-day work experiment, Medibank continues to report significant and sustained improvements in engagement, job satisfaction and employees' health and wellbeing.

Medibank started trialling a four-day work week in October 2023, and doubled the number of employees participating a year later – some 550 employees are now participating, says Kylie Bishop, group lead of people, spaces and sustainability.

Outcomes are being monitored and evaluated by the Health and Wellbeing Research Unit of Macquarie University's Business School, which will soon deliver the next round of results and help Bishop's team determine next steps, she tells HR Daily.

Bishop says teams from most parts of the business are involved, including some that are customer-facing. The selection process considers: levels of readiness; capacity to participate in workshops and measurement activities; and motivation.

"Our hypothesis was that, by creating the opportunity for 'gifted' flexible time, people and teams would fundamentally change their way of working, and be more sustainably engaged in delivering for our customers and patients," she says...