The four-day working week: advantages and disadvantages
Question
Many companies are experimenting with a four-day working week, keeping employees' salaries the same but reducing the number of days they work. What are the advantages and disadvantages of this change? Do the advantages outweigh the disadvantages?
Write at least 250 words. You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Model essay (estimated band 7.0 · 281 words)
Recent experiments with a four-day working week — where employees work fewer days but receive the same pay — have attracted attention from businesses and governments. This essay will consider the main advantages and disadvantages of such a change and argue that, overall, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks when the policy is implemented carefully.
One major advantage is improved employee well-being. A shorter working week can reduce stress and give people more time for family, rest and hobbies, which in turn can boost morale. For example, a mid-sized company in the fictional city of Riverton reported lower sick leave and higher staff retention after trialling a four-day schedule. Reduced commuting also saves time and money for workers and lowers traffic congestion and pollution, producing wider societal gains. Finally, there is evidence that well-rested employees can be more focused and productive during the hours they do work, so output need not fall even if hours are reduced.
On the other hand, there are clear disadvantages. Some businesses may compress the same workload into fewer days, making those days longer and more tiring. This can be especially problematic in service industries that operate continuously; customers expect availability and some shifts cannot easily be shortened. Moreover, smaller firms may find the transition costly if they need to hire temporary staff or reorganise rotas. There is also a risk of unequal benefits: salaried white-collar workers might gain more than hourly-paid staff who depend on overtime.
In my view, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages, provided employers plan the change carefully, consult staff and adapt schedules to the needs of specific industries. With sensible implementation, a four-day working week can improve quality of life without harming productivity.
Band commentary
- Task Response
- Addresses all parts of the task and presents a clear position: the essay states 'the advantages outweigh the disadvantages' and supports this with relevant points (employee well-being, reduced commuting, productivity). It also acknowledges counterarguments: 'On the other hand, there are clear disadvantages' and discusses practical problems such as longer days and service-sector difficulties. Examples are specific (the fictional Riverton company) and help development, though some points could be expanded further.
- Coherence & Cohesion
- Well organised with logical progression: a clear introduction, separate paragraphs for advantages and disadvantages, and a concise conclusion. Uses cohesive devices effectively, e.g. 'For example,' 'On the other hand,' and 'In my view.' Quotation: 'On the other hand, there are clear disadvantages.' Paragraphing helps the reader follow the argument, though linking between some sentences is at times basic rather than sophisticated.
- Lexical Resource
- Uses a range of appropriate vocabulary related to the topic: 'work-life balance', 'sick leave', 'staff retention', 'compressed the same workload', and 'service industries'. Quotation: 'reduced commuting also saves time and money for workers and lowers traffic congestion and pollution' demonstrates topic-specific lexis. Word choice is generally precise, with occasional repetition of common words that could be varied for higher band.
- Grammatical Range & Accuracy
- Shows a mix of complex sentence structures and generally accurate grammar. For example: 'Finally, there is evidence that well-rested employees can be more focused and productive during the hours they do work, so output need not fall even if hours are reduced.' Occasional minor awkwardness occurs in phrasing (e.g. 'which in turn can boost morale' is fine, while 'compress the same workload into fewer days' is slightly informal), but there are no persistent or serious errors that impede understanding.
Estimated band scores for practice only. Not affiliated with or endorsed by IELTS, the British Council, IDP or Cambridge.