The NSW government’s decision to reverse its plan to allow construction work on Sundays is not just a win for neighbours’ peace and quiet. It will support workers’ rights to enjoy the weekend, too.
The idea to extend construction work to Sundays as a permanent feature – rather than as a temporary measure to address the economic disruption of rain and the COVID pandemic – was floated last month, days after I released the final report from a two-year study into construction workers’ wellbeing, Project 5: A Weekend for Every Worker.
Premier Dominic Perrottet was an enthusiast for extended construction hours but the government has back-tracked on the idea.Credit:Gaye Gerard
Many readers would know that Saturday work has long been a feature of Australian construction. Project 5 tested whether limiting the working week to Monday to Friday could have positive impacts on the wellbeing of construction workers and their families.
The research was much needed. We know from a strong body of evidence that long and unpredictable hours in construction take a toll on workers’ physical and mental health. Research has found that every second day in Australia, a construction worker takes their own life. Construction is also Australia’s most male-dominated sector with long and unpredictable work hours acting as a barrier to women’s participation and progression.
The government could, and must, address the sector’s workforce shortage. The national shortfall is predicted to reach 93,000 workers by next year. Hours that provide better work-life balance are part of the mix that will attract talent and retain both men and women in construction.
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Project 5 was tested on two hospital construction sites in Concord and Liverpool, managed by the building company Roberts Co, for its government client NSW Health Infrastructure. We conducted a pilot experiment in which workers moved from six to five days. It did not necessarily mean a reduction in working hours, but we folded their work in to a Monday-to-Friday roster. And we compared their experience to a site still working six days.
We found that 75.4 per cent of workers preferred a five-day week to a six or seven days, and 78 per cent reported it improved their work-life balance. Workers reported an increase in all areas of job satisfaction, including work hours, pay, job security, family and work relationships. They were able to attend their children’s Saturday sports and dance concerts, in some cases for the first time in their working lives. They could spend more quality time with partners and friends, rather than feeling exhausted and disengaged by the time Sunday came around.
Putting forward the case for Sunday construction work, the government had said it would help meet its target for new home construction. Premier Dominic Perrottet said it would alleviate the impacts of wet weather delays and labour shortages due to COVID.
