A Four-Day Work Week: Would It Really Work?

Greg, do you have a minute before the meeting?

Greg，开会前你有一分钟吗？

Sure, as long as it's quick. What's up?

可以，只要快点就行。什么事？

I've been reading about the four-day work week!

我最近一直在看关于四天工作制的资料！

Oh no. I had a feeling this was coming.

哦不。我就知道你会提这个。

Come on, just hear me out for five minutes.

别这样，就听我说五分钟。

Fine. But who answers the phones on Fridays?

好吧。但周五谁来接电话？

Our clients don't stop working just because we do.

我们休息，客户可不会跟着休息。

That's fair, but we could split the team.

有道理，不过我们可以把团队分开。

Half of us take Monday off, half take Friday.

一半人周一休息，另一半周五休息。

And what about deadlines? We're already stretched thin.

那截止日期怎么办？我们现在已经忙不过来了。

Actually, there was a big trial in the UK.

其实，英国做过一次大规模试验。

Around sixty companies tried it for six months in 2022.

2022年，大约60家公司试行了6个月。

Really? And how did that turn out?

真的吗？那结果怎么样？

Most of them decided to keep it afterwards!

后来大部分公司都决定继续实行！

Wait, most of them? Not just a handful?

等等，大部分？不是只有几家？

Exactly. People said they felt far less burned out.

没错。大家都说倦怠感少了很多。

And honestly, think about how many meetings we have.

而且说实话，想想我们有多少会要开。

Don't remind me. I had four of them yesterday.

别提了。我昨天就开了四个。

With four days, we'd have to cut the pointless ones.

只上四天班的话，我们就得砍掉那些没用的会。

Okay, I'll admit that part sounds tempting.

好吧，我承认这一点听起来挺诱人的。

But if a client complains, it lands on my desk.

可要是有客户投诉，最后都得我来扛。

I understand. That's why we should measure everything.

我明白。所以我们应该把一切都量化。

Response times, sales, and how stressed people feel.

回复速度、销售额，还有大家的压力有多大。

And if the numbers drop, we go straight back?

那要是数据下滑，我们就马上恢复原样？

Absolutely. No hard feelings, I promise.

当然。绝不记仇，我保证。

You've clearly done your homework, Hannah.

Hannah，看得出来你做足了功课。

Here's my offer. Three months, one team only.

我的提议是：3个月，只试一个团队。

Seriously? You're actually willing to try it?

真的吗？你真的愿意试试？

Let's start with yours, since it was your idea.

就从你的团队开始吧，毕竟是你的主意。

Deal! I'll set up the tracking this week.

一言为定！我这周就把跟踪数据的方式定下来。

But if Friday turns into chaos, you're answering the phones.

不过要是周五乱成一团，电话就由你来接。

Fair enough! Thank you for giving it a chance, Greg.

说得对！谢谢你愿意给它一个机会，Greg。

Don't thank me yet. Let's see what the numbers say.

先别谢我。看看数据怎么说吧。