Pre-reading questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- What motivates you to work harder?
- How many days does it usually take you to finish your tasks?
Vocabulary:
I will read the words, meanings, and sample sentences. Then, repeat after me.
- majority /muh-JAWR-i-tee/
- preference /PREF-er-uhns/
- claim /kleym/
- promote /pruh-MOHT/
- competition /kom-pi-TISH-uhn/
[noun] – the larger number or part of something
The majority of people surveyed prefer televisions to radios.
[noun] – a choosing of or special liking for one person or thing rather than another or others
His preference for clothes is rather unique.
[verb] – to say that something is true or is a fact
Susan claims that she lost her wallet in the locker room.
[verb] – to encourage the existence or development of something
The organization promotes healthy lifestyle.
[noun] – the situation in which people or businesses are trying to be more successful than each other, for example by making more sales in a market
The company created another plan to get ahead of the competition.
Article reading:
Please read the whole article. Then, I will check your pronunciation and intonation.
For almost a year now, the majority of employees have been working from home due to the coronavirus threat. There are some who wish to go back to the office, while others have grown accustomed to working from home. Either way, both types of people have the same question: What will work look like after the pandemic? Some employees want a “hybrid” work future where they can work both from home and in the office. In response to this and the current situation, work flexibility strategies are being proposed.
One is the 3-2-2 work structure proposed by academics Lauren C. Howe, Ashley Whillans, and Jochen I. Menges. This will grant employees the flexibility of working in the office for 3 days, 2 days at home, and 2 days off. The key to this system is for the workers to choose freely when and where they want to work. Not only that, but companies will also consider COVID safety risks, some in-person interactions, employee preferences, and work-life balance with this structure. “Employees have appreciated the flexibility experienced during the pandemic, and desire more of it in the future,” says Whillans.
Another structure is the four-day workweek. In fact, this isn’t new. Some companies have been using this system since the 1970s. Some employees claim that they’re more efficient working remotely under this structure and do not need five days to get their tasks done. According to a survey from U.S. jobs site FlexJobs, 51% are more productive using this structure. This includes working parents.
Last December, Unilever New Zealand (NZ) implemented the four-day workweek. Unilever NZ general manager Nick Bangs said that the employees get to choose their day-offs, work 80% of the time but deliver 100% of their output and still receive 100% of their salary. Bangs also mentioned that this system not only promotes flexibility but better health for the employees to motivate them to work harder despite the shorter time given.
But not everyone agrees with the proposals. Despite their benefits, they also have disadvantages, such as leaving clients waiting for responses and worsening competitions. One thing is for sure, however: Regardless of the structure, our work during the pandemic will never be the same as before.
One is the 3-2-2 work structure proposed by academics Lauren C. Howe, Ashley Whillans, and Jochen I. Menges. This will grant employees the flexibility of working in the office for 3 days, 2 days at home, and 2 days off. The key to this system is for the workers to choose freely when and where they want to work. Not only that, but companies will also consider COVID safety risks, some in-person interactions, employee preferences, and work-life balance with this structure. “Employees have appreciated the flexibility experienced during the pandemic, and desire more of it in the future,” says Whillans.
Another structure is the four-day workweek. In fact, this isn’t new. Some companies have been using this system since the 1970s. Some employees claim that they’re more efficient working remotely under this structure and do not need five days to get their tasks done. According to a survey from U.S. jobs site FlexJobs, 51% are more productive using this structure. This includes working parents.
Last December, Unilever New Zealand (NZ) implemented the four-day workweek. Unilever NZ general manager Nick Bangs said that the employees get to choose their day-offs, work 80% of the time but deliver 100% of their output and still receive 100% of their salary. Bangs also mentioned that this system not only promotes flexibility but better health for the employees to motivate them to work harder despite the shorter time given.
But not everyone agrees with the proposals. Despite their benefits, they also have disadvantages, such as leaving clients waiting for responses and worsening competitions. One thing is for sure, however: Regardless of the structure, our work during the pandemic will never be the same as before.
Comprehension Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them based on the article.
- What work structure did academics Lauren C. Howe, Ashley Whillans, and Jochen I. Menges suggest?
- According to Bangs, how many percent of Unilever NZ’s time is used for work?
- In the 3-2-2 structure, how many days must an employee work in the office?
- According to the survey, how many percent of workers claim that they are more efficient working under the four-day workweek structure?
- Under the 3-2-2 work structure, what will companies also consider?
Discussion Questions:
I will read each question. Then, please answer them.
- Which of the two work structure mentioned in the article is better and why?
- Do you agree that some changes in the work structure may have their disadvantages? Why or why not?
- How do you manage your tasks to make sure you finish your work on time?
- Is flexible working time already being implemented in your country? Please tell me more about it.
- For you, is it more productive to work in the office or at home? Please explain your answer.