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Could the five-day working week become a thing
of
of
X
the
past
past
X
?
Could the five-day working week become
a thing of the past
?
Could
the
five-day
working
week
become
a
thing
of
the
past
For those
at
at
X
the Royal Society
of
of
X
Biology,
For those at the Royal Society of Biology,
For
those
at
the
Royal
Society
of
Biology
it already has.
it already has.
it
already
has
They were one
of
of
X
61 organizations taking part in the pilot
They were one of 61 organizations taking part in the
pilot
pilot
X
They
were
one
of
61
organizations
taking
part
in
the
pilot
and they're keeping the four-day week.
and they're keeping the four-day week.
and
they're
keeping
the
four-day
week
We see there's
We see there's
We
see
there's
actually been a decline in the amount
of
of
X
actually been a
decline
decline
X
in the amount of
actually
been
a
decline
in
the
amount
of
sick days taken
during
during
X
the period
of
of
X
the trial.
sick days taken during the
period
period
X
of the trial.
sick
days
taken
during
the
period
of
the
trial
We were starting
off
off
X
sick leave
at
at
X
We were starting off sick leave at
We
were
starting
off
sick
leave
at
around
around
X
about
about
X
the you know five... four
to
to
X
around about the you know five... four to
around
about
the
you
know
five
four
to
five days perhaps per person per year on average.
five days perhaps per person per year on average.
five
days
perhaps
per
person
per
year
on
average
It's
down
down
X
to
to
X
less
than
than
X
two
at
at
X
the moment
It's down to less than two at the moment
It's
down
to
less
than
two
at
the
moment
so I think it's a really substantial difference actually.
so I think it's a really
substantial
substantial
X
difference actually.
so
I
think
it's
a
really
substantial
difference
actually
Employees now have a slightly longer working day
Employees now have a slightly longer working day
Employees
now
have
a
slightly
longer
working
day
but
but
X
they say it's worth it.
but they say it's
worth it
.
but
they
say
it's
worth
it
Weekends can be quite hectic the two-day weekend
Weekends can be quite
hectic
the two-day weekend
Weekends
can
be
quite
hectic
the
two-day
weekend
so it's been quite nice
to
to
X
have
so it's been quite nice to have
so
it's
been
quite
nice
to
have
that extra day. You see your friends and
that extra day. You see your friends and
that
extra
day
You
see
your
friends
and
family
on
on
X
the two days when they're also free
family on the two days when they're also free
family
on
the
two
days
when
they're
also
free
and then you get that extra day
off
off
X
and then you get that extra day off
and
then
you
get
that
extra
day
off
during
during
X
the week just
to
to
X
do your chores
during the week just to do your
chores
chores
X
during
the
week
just
to
do
your
chores
or just
to
to
X
have that time
to
to
X
yourself
to
to
X
relax.
or just to have that time to yourself to relax.
or
just
to
have
that
time
to
yourself
to
relax
So it's really made a big
So it's really made a big
So
it's
really
made
a
big
difference
to
to
X
my mental health, I think.
difference to my mental health, I think.
difference
to
my
mental
health
I
think
Of the 2,900 staff who took part
in
in
X
the pilot,
Of the 2,900 staff who took part in the
pilot
pilot
X
,
Of
the
2900
staff
who
took
part
in
the
pilot
39 said they were less stressed
39 said they were less stressed
39
said
they
were
less
stressed
compared
with
with
X
the start
of
of
X
the trial.
compared with the start of the trial.
compared
with
the
start
of
the
trial
The number
of
of
X
sick days dropped
by
by
X
around
around
X
two-thirds
The number of sick days dropped by around two-thirds
The
number
of
sick
days
dropped
by
around
two-thirds
and there was also a 57 percent decrease
and there was also a 57 percent decrease
and
there
was
also
a
57
percent
decrease
in the number
of
of
X
people leaving
in the number of people leaving
in
the
number
of
people
leaving
companies compared
with
with
X
the same period
companies compared with the same
period
period
X
companies
compared
with
the
same
period
the previous year.
the previous year.
the
previous
year
The pandemic was key in forcing workplaces
The pandemic was key in forcing workplaces
The
pandemic
was
key
in
forcing
workplaces
to
to
X
become more flexible
but
but
X
to become more
flexible
flexible
X
but
to
become
more
flexible
but
not everyone believes a shorter week is
not everyone believes a shorter week is
not
everyone
believes
a
shorter
week
is
the future.
the future.
the
future
I think a four-day week sounds good in principle
I think a four-day week sounds good in principle
I
think
a
four-day
week
sounds
good
in
principle
but
but
X
in
in
X
practice how many
but in practice how many
but
in
practice
how
many
companies are going
to
to
X
be able
to
to
X
companies are going to be able to
companies
are
going
to
be
able
to
actually support employees well-being
actually support employees well-being
actually
support
employees
well-being
if they're going
from
from
X
having a normal
if they're going from having a normal
if
they're
going
from
having
a
normal
five-day week and then cramming that
down
down
X
five-day week and then cramming that down
five-day
week
and
then
cramming
that
down
into
into
X
four days. We do a five-day
into four days. We do a five-day
into
four
days
We
do
a
five-day
week
but
but
X
we work 10 till four so we
week but we work 10 till four so we
week
but
we
work
10
till
four
so
we
shorten the days and that means that the
shorten the days and that means that the
shorten
the
days
and
that
means
that
the
employees get
to
to
X
have that work-life harmony
employees get to have that
work-life harmony
employees
get
to
have
that
work-life
harmony
but
but
X
they're not actually
but they're not actually
but
they're
not
actually
shortening their week. With the findings
shortening their week. With the findings
shortening
their
week
With
the
findings
of
of
X
the pilot being presented
to
to
X
the
of the
pilot
pilot
X
being presented to the
of
the
pilot
being
presented
to
the
House
of
of
X
Commons today your four-day
House of Commons today your four-day
House
of
Commons
today
your
four-day
week could be just
around
around
X
the corner.
week could be
just around the corner
.
week
could
be
just
around
the
corner
Alice Porter Sky News.
Alice Porter Sky News.
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ˈflɛksɪbl
![]()
ˈflɛksəb(ə)l
![]()
Definition
________(________a________d________j________e________c________t________i________v________e________)________ ________F________l________e________x________i________b________l________e________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________a________b________l________e________ ________t________o________ ________b________e________ ________e________a________s________i________l________y________ ________c________h________a________n________g________e________d________ ________o________r________ ________a________d________a________p________t________e________d________.________ ________I________n________ ________t________h________e________ ________c________o________n________t________e________x________t________,________ ________i________t________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________t________h________a________t________ ________w________o________r________k________p________l________a________c________e________s________ ________w________e________r________e________ ________a________b________l________e________ ________t________o________ ________c________h________a________n________g________e________ ________t________h________e________i________r________ ________w________o________r________k________i________n________g________ ________h________o________u________r________s________ ________e________a________s________i________l________y________.________
worth it
Definition
'Worth it' is an idiom which means that something is beneficial or has a positive outcome. In the context, it suggests that the employees believe that the longer working day is beneficial.
Example
the extra hours are worth it to get a higher salary.
dɪˈklʌɪn
![]()
dəˈklaɪn
![]()
Definition
________(________v________e________r________b________)________ ________D________e________c________l________i________n________e________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________t________o________ ________b________e________c________o________m________e________ ________s________m________a________l________l________e________r________ ________o________r________ ________f________e________w________e________r________ ________i________n________ ________n________u________m________b________e________r________.________ ________I________n________ ________t________h________e________ ________c________o________n________t________e________x________t________,________ ________i________t________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________t________h________a________t________ ________t________h________e________ ________a________m________o________u________n________t________ ________o________f________ ________s________i________c________k________ ________d________a________y________s________ ________t________a________k________e________n________ ________d________u________r________i________n________g________ ________t________h________e________ ________t________r________i________a________l________ ________d________e________c________r________e________a________s________e________d________.________
ˈpɪərɪəd
![]()
ˈpɪriəd
![]()
Definition
________(________n________o________u________n________)________ ________P________e________r________i________o________d________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________a________ ________l________e________n________g________t________h________ ________o________f________ ________t________i________m________e________.________ ________I________n________ ________t________h________e________ ________c________o________n________t________e________x________t________,________ ________i________t________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________t________h________e________ ________l________e________n________g________t________h________ ________o________f________ ________t________i________m________e________ ________t________h________a________t________ ________t________h________e________ ________t________r________i________a________l________ ________w________a________s________ ________r________u________n________n________i________n________g________ ________f________o________r________.________
a thing of the past
Definition
'A thing of the past' is an idiom which means something that is no longer relevant or used. In the context, it suggests that the five-day working week may no longer be normal in the future.
Example
the four-day working week may become the new standard.
səbˈstanʃl
![]()
ˌsəbˈstæn(t)ʃəl
![]()
Definition
________(________a________d________j________e________c________t________i________v________e________)________ ________S________u________b________s________t________a________n________t________i________a________l________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________l________a________r________g________e________ ________i________n________ ________s________i________z________e________,________ ________a________m________o________u________n________t________,________ ________o________r________ ________d________e________g________r________e________e________.________ ________I________n________ ________t________h________e________ ________c________o________n________t________e________x________t________,________ ________i________t________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________a________ ________b________i________g________ ________d________i________f________f________e________r________e________n________c________e________ ________b________e________t________w________e________e________n________ ________t________h________e________ ________a________m________o________u________n________t________ ________o________f________ ________s________i________c________k________ ________l________e________a________v________e________ ________t________a________k________e________n________ ________b________e________f________o________r________e________ ________a________n________d________ ________a________f________t________e________r________ ________t________h________e________ ________t________r________i________a________l________.________
hectic
Definition
'Hectic' is an idiom which means busy or chaotic. In the context, it suggests that the two-day weekend can be quite busy.
Example
a family may have a hectic weekend with a lot of activities planned.
ˈpʌɪlət
![]()
ˈpaɪlət
![]()
Definition
________(________n________o________u________n________)________ ________A________ ________p________i________l________o________t________ ________i________s________ ________a________ ________t________r________i________a________l________ ________o________r________ ________e________x________p________e________r________i________m________e________n________t________ ________t________h________a________t________ ________i________s________ ________d________o________n________e________ ________i________n________ ________o________r________d________e________r________ ________t________o________ ________t________e________s________t________ ________s________o________m________e________t________h________i________n________g________ ________b________e________f________o________r________e________ ________i________t________ ________i________s________ ________u________s________e________d________ ________m________o________r________e________ ________w________i________d________e________l________y________.________ ________I________n________ ________t________h________e________ ________c________o________n________t________e________x________t________,________ ________i________t________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________a________ ________t________r________i________a________l________ ________t________h________a________t________ ________w________a________s________ ________d________o________n________e________ ________t________o________ ________t________e________s________t________ ________t________h________e________ ________f________o________u________r________-________d________a________y________ ________w________o________r________k________ ________w________e________e________k________.________
Definition
________(________n________o________u________n________)________ ________C________h________o________r________e________s________ ________a________r________e________ ________s________m________a________l________l________ ________t________a________s________k________s________ ________o________r________ ________j________o________b________s________ ________t________h________a________t________ ________n________e________e________d________ ________t________o________ ________b________e________ ________d________o________n________e________ ________r________e________g________u________l________a________r________l________y________,________ ________o________f________t________e________n________ ________a________r________o________u________n________d________ ________t________h________e________ ________h________o________u________s________e________.________ ________I________n________ ________t________h________e________ ________c________o________n________t________e________x________t________,________ ________i________t________ ________m________e________a________n________s________ ________t________a________s________k________s________ ________t________h________a________t________ ________n________e________e________d________ ________t________o________ ________b________e________ ________d________o________n________e________ ________i________n________ ________o________r________d________e________r________ ________t________o________ ________k________e________e________p________ ________t________h________e________ ________h________o________u________s________e________ ________c________l________e________a________n________ ________a________n________d________ ________t________i________d________y________.________
just around the corner
Definition
'Just around the corner' is an idiom which means something is close to happening. In the context, it suggests that the four-day week may soon become a reality.
Example
the new policy may be implemented within the next few weeks.
work-life harmony
Definition
'Work-life harmony' is an idiom which means a balance between work and personal life.
Example
employees may be able to leave work early to pick up their children from school.
Teacher says
Teacher says:
A more common expression is "work life balance"
flexible
ˈflɛksɪbl
![]()
ˈflɛksəb(ə)l
![]()
Definition
(adjective) Flexible means able to be easily changed or adapted. In the context, it means that workplaces were able to change their working hours easily.
Example
the company was flexible with its employees' working hours during the pandemic.
worth it
Definition
'Worth it' is an idiom which means that something is beneficial or has a positive outcome. In the context, it suggests that the employees believe that the longer working day is beneficial.
Example
the extra hours are worth it to get a higher salary.
decline
dɪˈklʌɪn
![]()
dəˈklaɪn
![]()
Definition
(verb) Decline means to become smaller or fewer in number. In the context, it means that the amount of sick days taken during the trial decreased.
Example
the number of people attending the event declined from last year.
period
ˈpɪərɪəd
![]()
ˈpɪriəd
![]()
Definition
(noun) Period means a length of time. In the context, it means the length of time that the trial was running for.
Example
I have a six-month period to complete my project.
a thing of the past
Definition
'A thing of the past' is an idiom which means something that is no longer relevant or used. In the context, it suggests that the five-day working week may no longer be normal in the future.
Example
the four-day working week may become the new standard.
substantial
səbˈstanʃl
![]()
ˌsəbˈstæn(t)ʃəl
![]()
Definition
(adjective) Substantial means large in size, amount, or degree. In the context, it means a big difference between the amount of sick leave taken before and after the trial.
Example
the difference between the amount of money in my bank account before and after I went shopping was substantial.
hectic
Definition
'Hectic' is an idiom which means busy or chaotic. In the context, it suggests that the two-day weekend can be quite busy.
Example
a family may have a hectic weekend with a lot of activities planned.
pilot
ˈpʌɪlət
![]()
ˈpaɪlət
![]()
Definition
(noun) A pilot is a trial or experiment that is done in order to test something before it is used more widely. In the context, it means a trial that was done to test the four-day work week.
Example
the company tested a new software program with a pilot before rolling it out to all employees.
chores
Definition
(noun) Chores are small tasks or jobs that need to be done regularly, often around the house. In the context, it means tasks that need to be done in order to keep the house clean and tidy.
Example
doing the laundry and taking out the garbage are two of my regular chores.
just around the corner
Definition
'Just around the corner' is an idiom which means something is close to happening. In the context, it suggests that the four-day week may soon become a reality.
Example
the new policy may be implemented within the next few weeks.
work-life harmony
Definition
'Work-life harmony' is an idiom which means a balance between work and personal life.
Example
employees may be able to leave work early to pick up their children from school.
Teacher says
Teacher says:
A more common expression is "work life balance"
flexible
ˈflɛksɪbl
![]()
ˈflɛksəb(ə)l
![]()
Definition
(adjective) Flexible means able to be easily changed or adapted. In the context, it means that workplaces were able to change their working hours easily.
Example
the company was flexible with its employees' working hours during the pandemic.
worth it
Definition
'Worth it' is an idiom which means that something is beneficial or has a positive outcome. In the context, it suggests that the employees believe that the longer working day is beneficial.
Example
the extra hours are worth it to get a higher salary.
decline
dɪˈklʌɪn
![]()
dəˈklaɪn
![]()
Definition
(verb) Decline means to become smaller or fewer in number. In the context, it means that the amount of sick days taken during the trial decreased.
Example
the number of people attending the event declined from last year.
period
ˈpɪərɪəd
![]()
ˈpɪriəd
![]()
Definition
(noun) Period means a length of time. In the context, it means the length of time that the trial was running for.
Example
I have a six-month period to complete my project.
a thing of the past
Definition
'A thing of the past' is an idiom which means something that is no longer relevant or used. In the context, it suggests that the five-day working week may no longer be normal in the future.
Example
the four-day working week may become the new standard.
substantial
səbˈstanʃl
![]()
ˌsəbˈstæn(t)ʃəl
![]()
Definition
(adjective) Substantial means large in size, amount, or degree. In the context, it means a big difference between the amount of sick leave taken before and after the trial.
Example
the difference between the amount of money in my bank account before and after I went shopping was substantial.
hectic
Definition
'Hectic' is an idiom which means busy or chaotic. In the context, it suggests that the two-day weekend can be quite busy.
Example
a family may have a hectic weekend with a lot of activities planned.
pilot
ˈpʌɪlət
![]()
ˈpaɪlət
![]()
Definition
(noun) A pilot is a trial or experiment that is done in order to test something before it is used more widely. In the context, it means a trial that was done to test the four-day work week.
Example
the company tested a new software program with a pilot before rolling it out to all employees.
chores
Definition
(noun) Chores are small tasks or jobs that need to be done regularly, often around the house. In the context, it means tasks that need to be done in order to keep the house clean and tidy.
Example
doing the laundry and taking out the garbage are two of my regular chores.
just around the corner
Definition
'Just around the corner' is an idiom which means something is close to happening. In the context, it suggests that the four-day week may soon become a reality.
Example
the new policy may be implemented within the next few weeks.
work-life harmony
Definition
'Work-life harmony' is an idiom which means a balance between work and personal life.
Example
employees may be able to leave work early to pick up their children from school.
Teacher says
Teacher says:
A more common expression is "work life balance"
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Review vocabulary
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chores
Definition
(noun) Chores are small tasks or jobs that need to be done regularly, often around the house. In the context, it means tasks that need to be done in order to keep the house clean and tidy.
Example
doing the laundry and taking out the garbage are two of my regular chores.
flexible
ˈflɛksɪbl
![]()
ˈflɛksəb(ə)l
![]()
Definition
(adjective) Flexible means able to be easily changed or adapted. In the context, it means that workplaces were able to change their working hours easily.
Example
the company was flexible with its employees' working hours during the pandemic.
decline
dɪˈklʌɪn
![]()
dəˈklaɪn
![]()
Definition
(verb) Decline means to become smaller or fewer in number. In the context, it means that the amount of sick days taken during the trial decreased.
Example
the number of people attending the event declined from last year.
substantial
səbˈstanʃl
![]()
ˌsəbˈstæn(t)ʃəl
![]()
Definition
(adjective) Substantial means large in size, amount, or degree. In the context, it means a big difference between the amount of sick leave taken before and after the trial.
Example
the difference between the amount of money in my bank account before and after I went shopping was substantial.
period
ˈpɪərɪəd
![]()
ˈpɪriəd
![]()
Definition
(noun) Period means a length of time. In the context, it means the length of time that the trial was running for.
Example
I have a six-month period to complete my project.
pilot
ˈpʌɪlət
![]()
ˈpaɪlət
![]()
Definition
(noun) A pilot is a trial or experiment that is done in order to test something before it is used more widely. In the context, it means a trial that was done to test the four-day work week.
Example
the company tested a new software program with a pilot before rolling it out to all employees.
Review complete!
Now watch the video and complete the gaps with the correct word.