Working Hours at Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C)

Depending on the team, very flexible and we are encouraged to log off when we can.

Hours can be irregular at times due to the nature of PM&C's role in the Government. However, we are strongly encouraged to self-manage our time and our wellbeing. Flexible working is supported and many colleagues work their preferred hours, work from home at least one day per week, or have other arrangements (subject to work area requirements). The work at PM&C can be intense, fast-paced, and at times demand additional or irregular hours. Across the Department, however, employees are always enabled to take leave (including accrued flex time or TOIL), look after their physical, mental, and spiritual wellbeing, and build positive working relationships with their colleagues.

Flexibility depends on team leaders/directors and current projects/workload. Grads are generally working overtime and accruing a lot of flex time. This can be great if you want to put this kind of "effort" in, but can be difficult to manage/navigate if you have other responsibilities and have to leave on time.

Very flexible. At the APS level, you build flex time, which makes it easy to keep track of the hours you do & to take short amounts leave without having to apply.

Very flexible - recognises that sometimes I will need to work from home. Facilitates working from home from interstate when necessary and taking flex days.

Not flexible enough for the work that I do. Could easily be 100% remote but limited to 1 day a week WFH

Allowed to start a bit late but with I could work through the night as that is my chronotype - After grad program will discuss later work

While there is often flexibility on paper, in practice, meetings will happen between 9 and 5 and it's in your interest to attend them, which does limit flexibility to an extent. Still, most managers I know tend to be as accommodative as they can.

There is a real focus on work/life balance and I am regularly encouraged to take holidays.

I am able to work whatever hours suit myself and my team between 7am and 7pm. I have the flexibility to work from home, start early and finish early, or start later and finish later. I get a 1:1 flex balance for any hours I work over my standard hours which I can use as leave as it works for myself and the team.

The work hours depend on what Division you are in. The teams I have worked in have been respectful of my boundaries in terms of work hours. I know this isn't the case for all.

Work basic 9-5 hours, sometimes more sometimes less, but is reasonably flexible.

My current team is very flexible and understanding. However, I think there are areas of the Department that are not so.

Very flexible work arrangements in place. Good support for work life balance.

My current placement is very flexible with hours. My previous placement was not.

Work life balance is generally good. However, there are days where tasks come in unexpectedly and people need to stay behind and finish them.

We work overtime, when needed but can work less when it’s quiet. We choose our own work hours, and are encouraged to take flex days when work gets too hectic.

Standard week is 38 hours. You may work slightly more than this, but you will be compensated with flex time i.e. every minute you work over the standard 7:36 day is accrued as flex which you can later take as leave.

I usually work 10-11hour days but this is only during busy periods. During quieter times I can leave at 5pm and accrue flex time which is great. It can just be challenging to take the time off.