TPO 01

The reading and the lecture both talk about how making four days a week can affect companies and individuals. While the reading suggests that it offers more advantages, the lecturer indicates that it is particularly not the case. The lecturer casts doubt on the main points made in the reading by providing three reasons.

First, the reading claims that having the option to work as individuals want can result in the company's profit in the long run. However, the lecturer refutes this point by arguing that companies are forced to spend more since there are costs such as training and medical expenses which are not reduced by any means. Moreover, the company needs to provide more computers and also more office space which increases the costs, and as a result, decreases company's profits.

Second, the author of the reading says that flexibility in workdays can cause unemployment to decrease. On the other hand, the lecturer disputes this argument. He feels that hiring new employees is expensive, so companies would not bother to hire new ones. Instead, they make current employees work overtime and raise expectations on the employees to get more work done in less time.

Third, the reading states that working four days can improve the quality of life since they have more free time. Nevertheless, the lecturer believes that this is not valid since they have more stress for losing their job, for they are the first ones to be fired. Also, if there is a promotion, they would be the last to get a promotion since employers need someone who consistently monitors people.