公司让员工自选“四天工作制”
A British construction company has given its employees the option of squeezing their working week into four days.
Under new contracts, the firm's 125 staff can either work their full hours over four longer days, or spread them across five days and work from home on the fifth. The company says the arrangement keeps its offices and building sites fully staffed while giving people more control over their time.
The change follows a trial in which staff worked a four-and-a-half-day week. Managers collected feedback from employees and monitored productivity during the trial. Staff said the new pattern improved their work-life balance and flexibility, although the company has not published detailed figures.
Construction has traditionally been known for long hours and rigid schedules, so the move stands out in the industry. The firm's managing director said the business believes that "our people are our greatest asset", while its head of people described the change as "a long journey".
Four-day weeks have been tested by hundreds of companies around the world in recent years. Supporters say they reduce stress and help businesses attract and keep good staff. Critics argue they do not suit every industry, especially those that need staff on hand at all times.
英国一家建筑公司让员工可以选择把一周的工作压缩到四天完成。
根据新的劳动合同，公司的 125 名员工可以选择每天多工作一会儿、四天干完全部工时，也可以把工时分摊到五天，其中第五天在家办公。公司表示，这样的安排既能保证办公室和工地人手充足，又能让员工更自由地安排自己的时间。
这一变化是在一次试行之后推出的。试行期间，员工每周上四天半班。管理层收集了员工的反馈，并跟踪了工作效率。员工表示，新的工作模式让他们更好地兼顾工作和生活，也更灵活，不过公司没有公布详细数据。
建筑业向来以工时长、安排死板著称，所以这家公司的做法在行业里很显眼。公司总经理说，公司相信“员工是我们最宝贵的财富”；人力资源负责人则形容，这一改变是“一段漫长的历程”。
近年来，世界各地已有数百家公司试行过四天工作制。支持者认为，它能减轻压力，帮助企业吸引和留住优秀员工；批评者则认为，这种模式并不适合所有行业，尤其是那些需要随时有人在岗的行业。