首页
外语
计算机
考研
公务员
职业资格
财经
工程
司法
医学
专升本
自考
实用职业技能
登录
外语
In the midst of the lumbering euro crisis, international lenders recently urged a struggling Greece to work a six-day week in or
In the midst of the lumbering euro crisis, international lenders recently urged a struggling Greece to work a six-day week in or
admin
2016-06-30
22
问题
In the midst of the lumbering euro crisis, international lenders recently urged a struggling Greece to work a six-day week in order to revive its stagnating economy. At first glance, this makes sense—something must be done, so why not get everybody to work harder? Surely this will generate more output and be the sought-after fillip to kick-start growth?
And yet a growing number of economists and social scientists suggest this is not the way to go. "The conventional wisdom says that, in hard times, what we need to do is double down and work harder because we’re poorer," said Juliet Schor, professor of sociology at Boston College, at a recent LSE conference. "That’s the standard view. But it’s a fallacy. "
How about doing the opposite—working fewer days? How about a four-day week? The answer to our economic woes surely lies not in a redistribution of wealth but, as Schor advocates, in a redistribution of paid working time. Indeed, think-tank the New Economics Foundation(NEF)goes further still and calls for a 21-hour week, 21 hours being the average number worked each week by all Britons of working age.
Were this to be mandated, there would, of course, be problems for those whose reduced wages failed to cover living costs, even while there would be a reduction in the benefits bill. The NEF doesn’t suggest forcing the issue: rather, they’d like to create the conditions whereby it can happen over time.
But it need not be a zero-sum game, as is evident from the shining example of the four-day weeks that already exist. In June 2008, the US state of Utah implemented the idea for most of its public-sector workers, who moved from five eight-hour days to four of ten hours. While neutral in terms of hours, this shift meant that staff spent one day fewer travelling to and from work. One year on, reductions in overtime and absenteeism were calculated at more than £ 2. 5m, with big falls in carbon emissions and petrol consumption.
Is this something only the state can do? Refreshingly, there are signals of a like-minded approach in the start-up sector. Florida-based businessman Ryan Carson, founder of online web-design-tutorial provider Treehouse, has his whole firm work a four-day week—Monday to Thursday, nine to six, " because we think that information work isn’t like manufacturing. "
His firm makes upwards of £ 1. 8m in annual revenues, and finds recruiting and retaining talented employees easier than ever. Facebook has repeatedly tried to poach Carson’s staff. "Do you work a four-day week yet?" is the question that usually ends the dialogue. Crucially, Carson gets to spend a three-day weekend with his kids. Yet his business is clearly not just about lifestyle—he’s raised some £ 3m from investors.
The point about productivity for information workers is a critical one. We’re no longer in manufacturing, where more is better. And yet, when at work, it often feels like it. We attend interminable meetings and conferences while sending innumerable emails. Addled and distracted, our brains’ ability to engage in any deep thinking is hugely impaired. A three-day weekend would improve our mindfulness and mental energy, leading to improved quality of output.
Which of the following factors is positive to the information workers?
选项
A、Attending more conferences.
B、Avoiding any deep thinking.
C、Enjoying a three-day weekend.
D、Giving up the usage of emails.
答案
C
解析
细节题。整个末段都在针对information workers进行分析,末句提及A three—day weekend wouldimprove our mindfulness and mental energy,leading to improved quality of output,由此可知,[C]符合文意,故为答案。末段第四句提及We attend interminable meetings and conferences while sendinginnumerable emails.第五句提及由此导致的结果是Addled and distracted,our brains’ability to engagein any deep thinking is hugely impaired.由此可推知,[A]、[B]与原文不符,[D]与原文相反,均排除。
转载请注明原文地址:https://kaotiyun.com/show/EUPK777K
0
专业英语四级
相关试题推荐
Allofthetechnologicaladvancesthathaveincreasedthequalityofmusichavenotchangedthefundamentalimpactofrecordedm
Thenewsagencyknowsthepossiblecauseoftheemergencylandingfrom______.
Hardshipdidnotendwithfreedom.Therewere【C1】______regionalvariationsinboththestatusand【C2】______offreeblacksdurin
Afacialexpressionresultsfromoneormoremotionsorpositionsofthemusclesoftheface.Thesemovements【C1】______theemot
TypeDpersonality,firstdefinedinthe’90s,ischaracterizedbyfeelingsofnegativity,depression,anxiety,stress,anger,a
Electricityissuchapartofoureverydaylivesandsomuchtakenforgrantednowadays【C1】______werarelythinktwicewhenwes
Electricityissuchapartofoureverydaylivesandsomuchtakenforgrantednowadays【C1】______werarelythinktwicewhenwes
TheNecktieThenecktieortieisalongpieceofclothwornfordecorativepurposesaroundtheneckorshoulders,restingu
Thismachinehelpsyouto______morejuiceout.
Manyimportedmachinesinthisfactoryhavebeenlying______foryearsduetotherestrictionsontheforeignspareparts.
随机试题
我国在外交政策中奉行独立自主的原则,这主要体现在( )
引起发热的病因中,属非感染性发热的是()
带下病的主要发病机制是
三七当归
硫黄熏蒸对人体具有一定的毒害作用。某电视台曝光了使用硫黄对中药材进行加工的黑幕,包括黄芪、党参、当归等在内的常用中药材在加工的过程中都经过了大量硫黄的熏制,用硫黄熏制的药材,造成了中药材中大量的二氧化硫残留,需要有关部门进行整治检查。下列不需要检测二氧
请根据以下内容回答题。买卖双方按CIF条件和信用证支付方式达成一项买卖粮食的大宗交易,合同规定“1-5月份分批装运,每月装运1万公吨”。买方按合同规定开出信用证,卖方在1-2月,每月装运1万公吨并提交了符合信用证要求的单据。3
在正向市场上,只要基差变大,无论期货、现货价格是上升还是下降,买入套期保值者都不可能得到完全保护。()
在我国,现代教育产生于19世纪初。()
近年来,我国推行了一系列改革,为双创营造制度环境。大学生、海归、大企业高管和连续创业者、科技人员这支“新四军”的崛起,可以看作是创业主体从精英走向大众的一个强有力的信号。不过,因为机制体制不健全,一些法律、法规、政策存在矛盾,人的价值的最终实现还存在着不少
Readthefollowingchartcarefullyandfindoutthecorrectanswersaccordingtotheinformationgiven.DriverwanteD.Cleandri
最新回复
(
0
)