Do you agree or disagree with this argument?
Band 9 IELTS essay sample
In many countries, employees typically work 6 days a week. Some people insist that the working week should be shorter so that employees will get a long weekend consisting of 2 or even 3 days. I agree with this view to some extent.
Work typically fills the time allotted to it. So, for example, if we have five days to complete a project, we almost never complete it in 3 or 4 days. By contrast, if we only had 2 days to finish the job, the vast majority of us would be quite capable of accomplishing that too. That means, a long 6-day working week does not always lead to improved productivity. Most employees are capable of completing the same amount of work in 4 or 5 days. Hence, in sectors where the focus is on completing projects, I believe that a 5 or 4-day working week is a sensible idea. In the IT sector, for example, they work on projects and there are deadlines. As long as employees meet the deadlines, it does not matter whether they work 4 days or 6 days a week. When people work fewer days, they know they have to do more in less time. This makes them focus more on the work and less on trivial pursuits like idle gossiping or internet surfing during working hours. The long weekend also enables employees to find enough time for their family and leisure activities. It makes them happy and thus automatically boosts their productivity.
On the other hand, there are some sectors where a long weekend can cause many problems. For example, in the banking sector, if there are too many holidays, it will put customers in great difficulty. Although internet banking has automated a lot of financial transactions, there are still some transactions that take place only on working days. For example, if you deposit a cheque, you will not have money in your account until a bank employee clears the transaction. Long weekends in such sectors will put customers in a lot of difficulty. Generally speaking, the short working week is not a good idea for employees working in offices that a lot of people visit to get their work done.
In short, the short working week is a good idea for employees who work to complete their project with little interactions with the general public. It is not recommended for employees whom people approach for their financial, legal or medical needs.
How to write an essay on this topic?
Before you start writing, read the question carefully. What do you think? Do you support a short working week? If so, what are your reasons for supporting it? Think and once you have gathered enough ideas, you can start writing.
Here are some points you can include:
A short working week makes employees happier. It improves their productivity and reduces their stress levels by enabling them to strike a better work-life balance. Happy employees are less likely to leave the company and thus it prevents attrition. Employers also get to save money on utilities when employees work fewer days a week. Longer weekends are beneficial for the economy as well. When people have more free time, they are likely to travel or engage in other fun activities. This gives a boost to the tourism and hospitality sectors.
What if you disagree with the given idea? Here are the points to include:
When employees work fewer days, they may take longer to complete their job. This causes a lot of inconvenience to customers/people. The short working week also reduces their output and causes loss to the employers. If you disagree with the short working week, do not mention any benefits of it.
Make sure that your body paragraphs support your opinion. If you support a short working week, mention the benefits of it. If you are against it, explain why you think so.
