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Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek Debate

The document discusses two writing prompts: one about the benefits and challenges of a four-day workweek for employees and companies, and the other advocating for domestic travel over international travel. The first part highlights the potential advantages of a shorter workweek, such as increased employee well-being and reduced unemployment, while the lecturer counters these claims by emphasizing the increased costs and potential downsides. The second part argues that exploring one's own country fosters cultural appreciation and supports the national economy through local spending.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
15 views2 pages

Benefits of a Four-Day Workweek Debate

The document discusses two writing prompts: one about the benefits and challenges of a four-day workweek for employees and companies, and the other advocating for domestic travel over international travel. The first part highlights the potential advantages of a shorter workweek, such as increased employee well-being and reduced unemployment, while the lecturer counters these claims by emphasizing the increased costs and potential downsides. The second part argues that exploring one's own country fosters cultural appreciation and supports the national economy through local spending.

Uploaded by

mshvidobadzeeka8
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Practice test

Writing Question 1

The reading and the lecture are both about offering the option of four-day
workweek for 80% of the normal pay to the employees. The author of the article
provides three examples of how the aforementioned reform can benefit the
individual companies, economy, and employees. The lecturer disputes the
claims made in the article.

According to the reading, those employees who choose to shorten their


workweek will feel themselves rested and alert; so, they will be able to better
concentrate on their tasks and make fewer mistakes. In addition to this, the
companies will be able to hire more employees because they will pay the
reduced salaries to those employees who choose to switch to four-day option.
So, the existence of the greater workforce with fewer exhausted employees and
no additional costs will lead the companies to higher profits. This specific
argument is challenged by the lecturer. He claims that the costs will certainly
increase if the companies hire more employees, even though, the employees
who decide to work four days in a week will receive 80 % of their normal pay.
The lecturer mentions that health benefits will not be reduced regardless of the
choice the employees make. Therefore, hiring more employees means providing
more health benefits, and this causes additional costs. So, increased costs will
not result in higher profits.

Secondly, the author suggests that since the companies will be able to hire
more employees, the unemployment rates will fall and this will be beneficial for
the entire nation. The lecturer, however, asserts that increasing the workforce is
costly. He goes on to say that instead of hiring new people, the companies can
offer their employees to work over-time so that the same amount of work is
done. The lecturer also claims that there is the possibility that the companies
will think that their employees can perform the same amount of tasks in the
reduced work time. But, such approach will actually, result in half-done work.

Finally, the author posits that those employees who choose to work four days
in a week will be able to enjoy their free time by dedicating it to private
interests. In contrast, the lecturer’s stance is that the quality of life of these
employees will not be improved. He notes that in case of economic downturn,
they will be the first to lose their jobs. Additionally, he points out that these
employees will face obstacles in regard of advancing their careers; He explains
that the companies will not think of them as capable of completing assignments
of greater difficulty. So, their promotion will be less likely.

Writing Question 2

Travelling is worth a try. Personally, I believe that exploring their own


country rather than travelling to foreign countries is more beneficial for people.
I feel this way for two reasons, which I will explore in the following essay.

To begin with, if people travel a lot around their country, they get to value
their culture, history, and natural beauties. It is quite shameful to know nothing
about your own country, while foreigners travel around it and get stunned by the
sightseeing, but you do not. My personal experience is a compelling illustration
of this. I am from Georgia and its culture is super rich in all of its ways; Well, I
had not realized it yet, when I was on my trip to Spain. There, my family got
acquainted with one tourist from Germany. To our surprise, he was a big
admirer of Georgia and had travelled a lot there. While listening to him talking
about his adventures in my country and witnessing how passionate he was about
it, I felt myself truly uncomfortable; it was such a shame that the foreigner
expressed the interest and respect of such degree toward Georgia while I was
only slightly aware of the places and things he mentioned; I was unable to
engage in the fascinating discussion about the place where I was born and raised
just because I had prioritized travelling abroad.

Furthermore, spending money within the borders of the country benefits the
national economy. The money you spend while travelling in your country
contributes to the development of local businesses. For instance, when
travelling, one of the places people are always eager to visit is a restaurant. If
they travel within their country and enter the local café, that café will have more
customers; more customers means more profit; more profit leads to having more
resources for the development of the business, for example, hiring more
employees; when more workplaces are created, the unemployment rates fall;
lower unemployment rate is desirable for the entire society.

Conclusively, when people have to choose between having a trip in their own
country and travelling to the foreign countries, the first option is more
advantageous for them. This is because they expand their knowledge of their
national heritage and begin to respect it properly, and their expenditures trigger
the improvement of the national economy.

Common questions

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The benefits of domestic travel, as opposed to international travel, include a deeper understanding and appreciation of one's own culture, history, and the natural environment, as well as contributing positively to the national economy by supporting local businesses. These factors promote cultural engagement and economic development within one's own country, contrasting with international travel, which often focuses on exploring new cultures and regions, potentially at the expense of understanding one's own cultural context and economic contribution .

The author suggests that traveling domestically is beneficial for personal cultural understanding because it allows individuals to better appreciate and engage with their country's history, culture, and natural beauty. By traveling within their own country, people can gain a deeper knowledge and respect for their national heritage, addressing the lack of awareness and appreciation that can occur when prioritizing international travel .

The argument for traveling within one's own country contrasts cultural appreciation and economic benefits by emphasizing that traveling domestically allows individuals to value their country's culture, history, and natural beauty, which they might overlook when focusing on international travel. At the same time, spending money domestically supports local businesses, thereby boosting the national economy. This dual benefit of enhancing personal cultural knowledge and contributing to economic development showcases a holistic advantage of domestic travel over international travel .

The lecturer challenges the claim that a four-day workweek can reduce unemployment rates by arguing that hiring more employees is costly due to the obligation of providing additional health benefits. Instead of hiring new employees, companies might opt to make existing employees work overtime to meet workloads. Furthermore, he suggests that companies might expect the same productivity in less time, which could lead to incomplete tasks rather than new job creation .

The lecturer argues that the potential downsides of offering a four-day workweek include increased costs for companies due to the need to provide more health benefits, which would counteract the proposed financial benefits. Furthermore, he suggests that the quality of life for employees might not improve, as those who opt for a reduced workweek may be the first to lose their jobs in an economic downturn and face obstacles to career advancement, as companies might perceive them as less capable of handling challenging assignments .

Spending money domestically while traveling contributes to the national economy by supporting local businesses, which increases their profits and enables them to expand. This expansion can lead to more employment opportunities, thereby reducing unemployment rates. The enhanced economic activity also contributes to overall economic growth and promotes sustainable local development .

The article's author proposes that a four-day workweek benefits companies by enabling them to hire more employees due to the reduced salaries of those choosing the four-day option, potentially increasing profits with a larger and more rested workforce. The lecturer refutes these benefits by highlighting the increased costs associated with providing additional health benefits and suggests that instead of new hires, current employees might be asked to work overtime, negating the supposed financial advantages .

Domestic travel influences personal identity and national pride by fostering a greater appreciation for one's country, its culture, and history. By experiencing and learning about their national heritage firsthand, individuals develop a deeper connection and respect for their country, which can enhance their personal sense of identity and pride in their national background .

The implications of a four-day workweek on employee job security and career advancement include the potential for increased job insecurity, as employees opting for a reduced schedule may be the first to be laid off during economic downturns. Additionally, there is a concern that such employees may be perceived as less dedicated or capable of completing complex tasks, thereby hindering their opportunities for promotions and advancement within their careers .

The lecturer argues against the expectation that a four-day workweek could lead to increased diligence and fewer errors, suggesting that companies might expect the same level of productivity despite the reduced working hours. This expectation could lead to incomplete work as tasks may be perceived as unfinished due to reduced working hours, indicating that the anticipated productivity gains may not materialize .

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