The construction industry’s working practices have been criticized as outdated, with 64% of employees clocking over 50 hours per week.
These excessive hours jeopardize workers' physical and mental health, strain relationships, and undermine productivity and safety.
Adding to the challenge, the industry struggles to attract and retain women, with one-third of small companies in New South Wales reporting no female employees.
These issues are critical for a sector tasked with delivering 1.2 million new homes and A$230 billion in infrastructure over the next five years. It is evident that change is urgently needed.
Our research revealed that simply reducing working hours wouldn’t improve work–life balance for everyone in the construction industry.
Factors like age, family and caregiving responsibilities, financial needs, the feasibility of completing tasks within five days, and personal attitudes toward work all play a role.
It's also unclear whether a shorter workweek would boost female participation. Both men and women widely viewed high salaries as fair compensation for long hours, and some studies even suggest women may be less likely than men to leave the industry.
However, women with significant family responsibilities might face added challenges if longer weekday hours are required to offset a lost weekend.
Most respondents agreed that gender distinctions are increasingly outdated, emphasizing the need to make the industry more attractive to everyone, regardless of gender.
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