Rachel Siewert (WA, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I seek leave to amend general business notice of motion No. 120 standing in my name for today relating to Go Home on Time Day.

Leave granted.

I move the motion as amended:

That the Senate:

(a)

notes that:

(i)

overwork is a significant problem for many Australian workers,

(ii)

research by the Australia Institute has shown that the typical full-time employee works 70 minutes of unpaid overtime a day, which equates to six and a half standard working weeks a year, effectively meaning that Australian workers are ‘donating’ more than their annual leave entitlement back to their employers in the form of unpaid overtime,

(iii)

excessive working hours can have negative consequences for physical and mental health, for relationships with loved ones, and for the broader community, and

(iv)

to focus attention on the ongoing problem of work/life balance, Wednesday, 24 November is National Go Home on Time Day, an initiative of the Australia Institute that is supported by beyondblue, VicHealth, the Australian Health Promotion Association, the Public Health Association of Australia, and many other organisations; and

acknowledges the positive and simple message behind Go Home on Time Day, and encourages employees and employers to take part on 24 November.