Britain's new working week 英国新兴的混合办公模式

　　如今，人们越来越重视工作与生活之间的平衡。同时，新科技的推出为居家办公提供了更多便利。在英国，一种支持员工灵活选择办公地点的混合工作制正逐步成型。本期 “随身英语” 节目探讨这种新的工作方式对员工和雇主来说意味着什么。

　　词汇：work 工作

　　For many, the idea of commuting¹ daily to a place of work might sound outdated². In the UK, at least, the shape of the working week is changing, and a new hybrid³ approach is becoming commonplace. This new look seems inevitable⁴: new technology means tasks traditionally done in the office can be done at home. And there's the demand for a better work-life balance, too. All of this has been accelerated by the necessary changes brought on by the Covid pandemic.

　　One obvious change in the UK is that Friday has become the most popular day to work from home. One survey found it's when just 13% of workers go into the office. It means employees can save on commuting costs and the price of lunches. And Claire McCartney from The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development told the BBC that generally employers thought the shift to hybrid working and home working had "increased productivity rather than decreased it".

　　Monday is also becoming a 'work from home' day: a recent study of mobile phone activity in the UK suggested a typical week in the office now runs from Tuesday to Thursday. This means companies have to think differently about the workspace they provide. Mark Allan, chief executive of property firm LandSec, told the BBC: "We certainly believe there are going to be fewer people in offices for the longer term, and we are planning accordingly." A shorter office week isn't great news for the city-centre shops, which depend on trade from workers. But suburban⁵ and small-town high streets are reporting an increase in footfall as people work and shop locally.

　　There's also an emerging trend for a shorter working week. Some companies are experimenting with a four-day working week – but with the same full-time⁶ pay. They have tried to make work time more efficient by cutting out unnecessary meetings and having shorter breaks, for example. They claim this has made workers more productive. All this makes you wonder if the act of going to work and doing the nine-to-five will become a thing of the past.

　　词汇表

　　commute 上下班，通勤

　　hybrid （办公地点）混合的

　　task 任务，工作

　　work-life balance 工作与生活之间的平衡

　　worker 工作者，员工

　　employee 雇员，员工

　　employer 雇主

　　productivity 生产率，工作效率

　　work from home 居家办公

　　company 公司

　　workspace 工作空间，办公场所

　　suburban 城郊的

　　footfall 客流量

　　pay 工资

　　efficient 高效的，有效率的

　　productive 高产的，成效高的

　　the nine-to-five 朝九晚五的工作

 

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