Last year, a pilot program was launched in the UK to evaluate the feasibility of a four－day workweek. The program was carried out by nonprofit 4 Day Week Global and studied by researchers at Boston College and the University of Cambridge, who measured the effects of reduced working hours on productivity, employee well-being, and work-life balance. The trial, which lasted from July to December, included 2,900 workers at 61 companies across the country.

去年英國展開一項試驗計畫，評估一週工作四天的可行性。這項計畫由非營利組織「全球一週工作四天」執行，並由波士頓學院和劍橋大學的研究人員進行研究，衡量減少工作時間對生產力、員工福祉，以及工作與生活平衡的影響。這項試驗從七月持續到十二月，全國61 家公司的2900 名員工參與其中。

The results of the pilot program, released last week, showed that the four-day workweek had a positive impact on all three areas. Productivity remained the same or even increased, while employees reported feeling less stress and more satisfaction with their work-life balance. The companies that participated also reported benefits such as increased employee retention and less absenteeism.

上週（2/21）發布的試驗計畫結果顯示，四天工作制對三個領域（生產力、員工福祉、工作與生活平衡）都產生正面影響。生產率保持不變，甚至有所提高，員工也表示壓力減輕，對工作與生活的平衡更加滿意。參與的公司也報告了員工留任率增加和曠職率降低等好處。

Of the 61 companies that took part in the trial, 56 said they would continue offering the four-day workweek for now and 18 said they planned to shorten the workweek permanently. Among them is Tyler Grange, an English environmental consulting firm. With the incentive of an extra day off, the company’s managers and employees devised strategies to get the same amount of work done in four days as they had previously done in five. And they reported that the shorter workweek did wonders for their mental health and well-being.

在參與試驗的61家公司中，有56家表示他們將暫時繼續實行四天工作制，18家表示他們計畫永久實行四天工作制，其中包括英國環境諮詢公司泰勒莊園。在額外休假一天的激勵下，公司的經理和員工想方設法在四天內完成之前五天的工作量。他們表示，縮短工作日對他們的心理健康和福祉有極大的效果。

However, there are also concerns about the potential costs of implementing a four day workweek, particularly for small businesses. Some experts have suggested that the government should provide financial support to help businesses make the transition. Despite these concerns, the pilot program has started a national conversation about the future of work in the UK. Many people are now calling for the four-day workweek to become the national standard, arguing that it would benefit both employees and employers in the long run.

不過也有人擔心實施四天工作制的潛在成本，尤其是對小企業而言。有專家建議，政府應提供財務支援，幫助企業實現轉型。儘管有這些擔憂，這項試驗計畫還是使英國未來的工作制成為全國性的話題。許多人現在呼籲將每週工作四天定為國家標準，並主張從長遠來看這對員工和雇主都有利。

The four-day workweek is not a new idea, and it has been implemented in various countries around the world with varying degrees of success. In New Zealand, a trial of the four-day workweek in 2018 resulted in a 20% increase in productivity and a 45% surge in employee well-being. And in Spain, a four-day workweek has been proposed as a way to stimulate job creation and boost the economy.

每週工作四天並不是創新的想法，此制度已在世界許多國家實施但成功率不一。2018 年紐西蘭試行四天工作制，結果生產率提高了20%，員工幸福指數提高了45%。西班牙有人提議每週工作四天，以創造更多就業機會和促進經濟發展。

The idea of a shorter workweek is also gaining traction in the United States and Japan, where some companies have already implemented it with positive results. Microsoft Japan, for example, reported a 40% increase in productivity after implementing a four-day workweek in 2019. The vast majority of employees said they liked the shorter week.

縮短工作天數的想法也在美國和日本越來越受歡迎，部分公司已經實施並取得正面成果。例如根據日本微軟報告，2019 年實施四天工作制後，生產率提高了40%，絕大多數員工表示他們喜歡縮短工作天數。

As the modern workplace continues to evolve, it’s clear that the traditional five-day workweek is no longer the best model for all companies. The success of the UK pilot program suggests that a shorter workweek could be a feasible alternative that benefits employers and employees alike.

隨著現代職場持續進展，傳統的五天工作日顯然不再是所有公司的最佳營運模式。英國試驗計畫的成功顯示，縮短工作天數可能是一種可行的替代方案，且對雇主和員工都有利。

Vocabulary

• evaluate (v.) 評估，評價
• feasibility (n.) 可行性，可能性 / feasible (adj.) 可行的，可能的
• researcher (n.) 研究員，調查者
• university (n.) 大學，大學校園
• productivity (n.) 生產力，生產率
• impact (n.) 衝擊，影響
• satisfaction (n.) 滿意，滿足
• consulting (n.) 咨詢，顧問業
• incentive (n.) 鼓勵，動機
• devise (v.) 策劃，設計，發明
• potential (adj.) 潛在的，可能的 (n.) 潛力，可能性
• financial (adj.) 財政的，金融的
• transition (n./v.) 變革，轉變
• surge (n./v.) 激增，暴漲
• creation (n.) 創造，創作
• boost (v./n.) 加強，提升
• economy (n.) 經濟（局勢），經濟體
• vast (adj.) 廣大的，大量的
• evolve (v.) 演變，逐漸發展

Advanced Words

• well-being (n.) 安康，福利
• retention (n.) 保留，保持
• absenteeism (n.) 曠課，曠工
• traction (n.) 接受度，支持度

Tongue-tied No More

• do wonders for sth./sb. 有神效，造成驚人的進步

A: Did you try that lotion I told you about？你有試試我跟你說的乳液嗎？

B: Yeah. It’s doing wonders for my skin！有啊。它對我的皮膚超有效的！

• in the long run 從長遠來看

A: Why should I buy energy saving light bulbs? They’re more expensive.  為什麼我應該買省電燈泡？它們比較貴耶！

B: They are a little more expensive, but they’ll save you money in the long run. 雖然貴了點，但長遠來看能幫你省荷包。

_{＊資料來源： EZ TALK《英文時事閱讀選2024》}