The Four-Day Work Week: The Case Against

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1. 01The Four-Day Work Week: The Case Against

   Good morning, everyone. A three-day weekend every week sounds wonderful, and it's easy to see why the idea is so popular. However, today I'll argue that the four-day work week is not the solution many people think it is.

   大家早安。每個星期都放三天的週末，聽起來很棒，也不難理解為什麼這個想法這麼受歡迎。不過，今天我要主張的是：四天工作制並不是很多人以為的那種解決辦法。

2. 02Longer Days, Not Less Work

   First of all, a shorter week doesn't always mean less work. In some versions, employees simply squeeze forty hours into four days. That means ten-hour days, which can leave people more exhausted, not less.

   首先，工作週變短，不一定代表工作變少。在某些做法裡，員工只是把四十個小時塞進四天裡。這代表一天要工作十個小時，反而可能讓人更累，而不是更輕鬆。

3. 03Not Every Job Can Stop

   Second, many jobs simply cannot stop for an extra day. Hospitals, schools, and shops need people every day, and customers expect service at least five days a week. For these workers, a four-day week is much harder to achieve.

   第二，很多工作根本沒辦法多停一天。醫院、學校和店家每天都需要人手，客人也期待一週至少有五天能得到服務。對這些工作者來說，四天工作制要實現就困難得多。

4. 04A Closer Look at the Trials

   Supporters often point to successful trials. But we should look more closely. In the large UK trial in 2022, companies volunteered to take part, so they were likely the ones most ready for the change. Also, six months may not be long enough to see the long-term effects.

   支持者常常會舉成功的試驗為例。但我們應該看得更仔細一點。在2022年英國那項大型試驗中，公司是自願參加的，所以它們很可能本來就是最準備好接受改變的公司。另外，六個月可能也不夠長，看不出長期的影響。

   Source: 4 Day Week Global, UK trial (2022)

5. 05Working With Others

   There is also the problem of working with others. If your company works four days but your clients and partners work five, you may miss important calls and deadlines. In a global economy, fewer shared working hours can slow everything down.

   還有跟別人合作的問題。如果你的公司一週上四天班，但你的客戶和合作夥伴上五天，你可能就會錯過重要的電話和截止期限。在全球化的經濟裡，共同的工作時間變少，可能會拖慢所有的事情。

6. 06A Better Alternative: Flexibility

   So what's the alternative? Rather than cutting a whole day for everyone, companies can offer flexible hours and remote days. This gives workers more control over their time without forcing every business to follow the same model.

   那麼，替代方案是什麼呢？與其讓每個人都少上一整天班，公司可以提供彈性工時和遠距工作日。這樣能讓員工更能掌控自己的時間，也不必強迫每家企業都採用同一種模式。

7. 07My Position

   My position is this: the goal should be better work, not just fewer days. A four-day week might suit some teams, but it should not be treated as the answer for everyone.

   我的立場是：目標應該是把工作做得更好，而不只是少上幾天班。四天工作制或許適合某些團隊，但不應該被當成適用於每個人的答案。

8. 08Conclusion

   In conclusion, the four-day week is an attractive idea, but it's not a magic solution. Instead of asking how many days we work, we should ask what helps people work well. One size does not fit all. Thank you.

   總而言之，四天工作制是個很吸引人的想法，但它不是萬靈丹。與其問我們工作幾天，不如問什麼能幫助大家把工作做好。沒有一種做法適合所有人。謝謝。