TOEFL 통합 작문

📖 읽기 지문

The introduction of a four-day workweek—where employees work four longer days but receive the same pay and benefits as they did for five days—has been proposed as a way to improve productivity and worker satisfaction. Proponents argue that this schedule offers significant benefits. First, a compressed workweek can lead to increased employee productivity. With fewer working days, companies often report that employees are more focused and efficient during their extended shifts, as they are motivated to complete tasks within the shorter weekly timeframe, thereby reducing time-wasting activities. Second, a four-day schedule reduces operational costs for businesses. By closing offices or reducing energy consumption on the fifth day, companies can save on electricity, heating, and other overheads. For example, a factory operating only four days can cut its utility bills by roughly 20%. Third, this arrangement improves employee morale and work-life balance, which in turn lowers turnover rates. Employees gain an extra day to attend to personal matters, pursue hobbies, or rest, leading to higher job satisfaction and a stronger sense of loyalty to the company, thus saving costs associated with hiring and training new staff.

🎧 듣기 강의

The reading presents a rosy picture of the four-day workweek, but its claims are not supported by evidence. Consider productivity. While some short-term studies show gains, these often fade over time. Employees working ten-hour shifts become fatigued, and after six months, error rates and accidents climb, offsetting any initial efficiency. Moreover, the assumption of cost savings is misleading. Many businesses, especially those in client-facing sectors, cannot simply shut down for an extra day. They must keep the lights on to serve customers, meaning energy and operational costs remain unchanged. Additionally, to maintain five-day coverage, companies may need to hire part-time staff for the fifth day, which adds payroll and training expenses. Finally, the claim about improved morale is questionable. Longer workdays increase stress and disrupt family routines, as parents may find childcare arrangements more difficult on the extended days. In fact, surveys indicate that after one year, many employees report higher burnout and a desire to return to a traditional schedule, which could actually increase turnover rather than reduce it.