A 4-day Work Week in Japan Increased

Productivity

Vocabulary Definition

1.trialed a. Well known for some bad quality or action.

2.satisfaction b. The place or building serving as the managerial and
administrative center of an organization.
3.headquarters c. Looked at and checked the progress or quality of
something over a period of time.
4.leave d. Tested a new product or process to assess its
suitability or performance.
5.monitored e. A person with senior managerial responsibility in a
business organization.
6.executive f. The fulfillment of one's wishes, expectations, or
needs, or the pleasure derived from this.
7.infamous g. A period of time when one has permission to be
absent from work or from duty in the armed forces.

Vocabulary Definition

8. diverse h. Particular parts or features of something.

9. flexible i. Helping or stimulating an activity, state, or view to
develop.
10.circumstances j. Ideas or a contribution of work, information, or
material.
11.aspects k. Ready and able to change so as to adapt to
different circumstances.
12.encouraging l. Use up a resource like electricity, energy, etc.
13.consumed m. Facts or conditions connected with or relevant to an
event or action.
14.input n. Very different.
Listening:

The technology company Microsoft has (1) ___________________ trialed a four-day

working week in Japan, which saw improvements in workers' productivity and job
satisfaction. The (2) ___________________ over the summer at the tech giant's
headquarters in Tokyo. Employees were given every Friday off (3)
___________________ in August. The company monitored the effects a three-day
weekend would have on workers' performance. Company executives said the shorter
working week (4) ___________________ benefits. Productivity rose by 40 per cent and
92 per cent of employees expressed their satisfaction (5) ___________________. The
trial could lead to a change in Japan's infamous workplace practices of long hours and
(6) ___________________.

Microsoft (7) ___________________ the Work-Life Choice Challenge. The company

said it aimed, "to create an environment where each employee can choose a (8)
___________________ way of working according to the circumstances of their work
and life". Other (9) ___________________ trial included shortening the length of
meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes and encouraging workers to (10)
___________________ over face-to-face ones. There were additional advantages to
the trial. Microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity (11) ___________________ 59
per cent fewer pages were printed compared with August 2018. Microsoft will conduct
another experiment in Japan later this year and has asked employees (12)
___________________.
The technology company Microsoft has said it successfully trialed a four-day working
week in Japan, which saw improvements in workers' productivity and job satisfaction.
The trial took place over the summer at the tech giant's headquarters in Tokyo.
Employees were given every Friday off as paid leave in August. The company
monitored the effects a three-day weekend would have on workers' performance.
Company executives said the shorter working week resulted in additional benefits.
Productivity rose by 40 per cent and 92 per cent of employees expressed their
satisfaction with the scheme. The trial could lead to a change in Japan's infamous
workplace practices of long hours and lots of overtime.

Microsoft called the trial the Work-Life Choice Challenge. The company said it aimed,
"to create an environment where each employee can choose a diverse and flexible way
of working according to the circumstances of their work and life". Other aspects of the
trial included shortening the length of meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes and
encouraging workers to choose online chats over face-to-face ones. There were
additional advantages to the trial. Microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity was
consumed and 59 per cent fewer pages were printed compared with August 2018.
Microsoft will conduct another experiment in Japan later this year and has asked
employees for their input.

TRUE / FALSE: true (T) or false (F).

1. A 4-day working week was trialed in Japan by Microsoft. T / F

2. The trial took place in the spring of 2018. T / F
3. Employees didn't have to work on Mondays but got paid. T / F
4. Japan is famous for not asking its workers to do overtime. T / F
5. The trial was called the "Work-Life Choice Challenge". T / F
6. Workers were asked to keep meetings to less than 30 minutes. T / F
7. The trial meant the month's electricity bill decreased by 59%. T / F
8. The company will carry out a further experiment in Japan. T / F
The technology company Microsoft has said it successfully trialed a four-day working
week in Japan, which saw improvements in workers' productivity and job satisfaction.
The trial took place over the summer at the tech giant's headquarters in Tokyo.
Employees were given every Friday off as paid leave in August. The company
monitored the effects a three-day weekend would have on workers' performance.
Company executives said the shorter working week resulted in additional benefits.
Productivity rose by 40 per cent and 92 per cent of employees expressed their
satisfaction with the scheme. The trial could lead to a change in Japan's infamous
workplace practices of long hours and lots of overtime.

Microsoft called the trial the Work-Life Choice Challenge. The company said it aimed,
"to create an environment where each employee can choose a diverse and flexible way
of working according to the circumstances of their work and life". Other aspects of the
trial included shortening the length of meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes and
encouraging workers to choose online chats over face-to-face ones. There were
additional advantages to the trial. Microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity was
consumed and 59 per cent fewer pages were printed compared with August 2018.
Microsoft will conduct another experiment in Japan later this year and has asked
employees for their input.

1. What is the name of the company that conducted the trial?

2. When did the trial take place?
3. What day of the week did the employees have off?
4. By how much did productivity rise?
5. What did the article say Japan's workplace practices were?
6. What was the trial called?
7. What were workers urged to spend no longer than 30 minutes doing?
8. By how much did the company's electricity bill fall?
9. What fell by 59 per cent?
10. What will employees be asked for ahead of the next trial?
SYNONYM MATCH:
1. trialed a) main office
2. improvements b) situation
3. headquarters c) increased
4. monitored d) ideas
5. rose e) advances
6. flexible f) carry out
7. circumstances g) adaptable
8. encouraging h) tested
9. conduct i) urging
10. input j) tracked

PHRASE MATCH:
1. it successfully trialed a) employee can choose
2. at the tech giant's b) infamous workplace practices
3. the shorter working week resulted c) another experiment
4. employees expressed their d) headquarters in Tokyo
5. lead to a change in Japan's e) flexible way of working
6. create an environment where each f) in additional benefits
7. a diverse and g) face-to-face ones
8. shortening the length h) satisfaction with the scheme
9. choose online chats over i) of meetings
10. Microsoft will conduct j) a four-day working week
GAP FILL:

tech effects successfully infamous

additional leave expressed improvements

The technology company Microsoft has said it (1) ____________ trialed a four-day
working week in Japan, which saw (2) ____________ in workers' productivity and job
satisfaction. The trial took place over the summer at the (3) ____________ giant's
headquarters in Tokyo. Employees were given every Friday off as paid (4)
____________ in August. The company monitored the (5) ____________ a three-day
weekend would have on workers' performance. Company executives said the shorter
working week resulted in (6) ____________ benefits. Productivity rose by 40 per cent
and 92 per cent of employees (7) ____________ their satisfaction with the scheme. The
trial could lead to a change in Japan's (8) ____________ workplace practices of long
hours and lots of overtime.

flexible advantages maximum input

aspects consumed each ones

Microsoft called the trial the Work-Life Choice Challenge. The company said it aimed,
"to create an environment where (9) ____________ employee can choose a diverse
and (10) ____________ way of working according to the circumstances of their work
and life". Other (11) ____________ of the trial included shortening the length of
meetings to a (12) ____________ of 30 minutes and encouraging workers to choose
online chats over face-to-face (13) ____________. There were additional (14)
____________ to the trial. Microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity was (15)
____________ and 59 per cent fewer pages were printed compared with August 2018.
Microsoft will conduct another experiment in Japan later this year and has asked
employees for their (16) ____________.
Productivity will increase in all industries with a 4-day work week.

Agree / Disagree

Reason 1: _________________________________

Reason 2: _________________________________

Reason 3: _________________________________
Listening:

1) The trial took place over the summer 6) The company said it aimed, "to create
at ______ headquarters an environment where each ______
a. the tech giant's a. employees can choose
b. the tech ogre's b. employed can choose
c. the tech fairy's c. employee can choose
d. the tech spirit's d. employer can choose
2) Employees were given every Friday 7) a diverse and flexible way of working
off ______ ______ circumstances
a. as paid leaves a. according to the
b. as paid leaver b. according of the
c. as paid leaving c. according at the
d. as paid leave d. according that the
3) Company executives said the shorter 8) encouraging workers to choose online
working week ______ benefits chats over ______
a. resulted in addition a. mouth-to-face ones
b. resulted in additional b. face-to-mouth one
c. resulted in addition all c. face-to-face one
d. resulted in add diction d. face-to-face ones
4) 92 per cent of employees expressed 9) consumed and 59 per cent fewer
their satisfaction ______ pages were printed ______ August
a. on the scheme a. compares with
b. to the scheme b. compared with
c. with the scheme c. comparison with
d. of the scheme d. comparing with
5) The trial could lead to a change in 10) in Japan later this year and has
Japan's ______ practices asked employees ______
a. famous workplace a. for there input
b. famously workplace b. for their imp put
c. infamous workplace c. for their imp putt
d. infer mouse workplace d. for their input
Multiple Choice:

1) What is the name of the company 6) What was the trial called?
that conducted the trial? a) Challenge-Life Choice Work
a) Chanel b) Work-Life Choice Challenge
b) Google c) Life-Work Choice Challenge
c) Apple d) Work-Life Challenge Choice
d) Microsoft 7) What were workers urged to spend
2) When did the trial take place? no longer than 30 minutes doing?
a) in April a) overtime
b) over the summer b) making phone calls
c) last month c) commuting
d) last winter d) having meetings
3) What day of the week did the 8) By how much did the company's
employees have off? electricity bill fall?
a) Wednesdays a) 23%
b) Mondays b) 25%
c) Fridays c) 21%
d) it was their choice d) 27%
4) By how much did productivity rise? 9) What fell by 59 per cent?
a) 40% a) waste
b) 30% b) stress levels
c) 50% c) the number of pages printed
d) 70% d) the number of staff quitting
5) What did the article say Japan's 10) What will employees be asked for
workplace practices were? ahead of the next trial?
a) rigorous a) their weight
b) established b) their input
c) infamous c) their blood pressure level
d) amazing d) their preferred day off
Language:

The technology company Microsoft has said it (1) ____ trialed a four-day working week
in Japan, which saw improvements (2) ____ workers' productivity and job satisfaction.
The trial took place over the summer at the tech (3) ____ headquarters in Tokyo.
Employees were given every Friday off as paid (4) ____ in August. The company
monitored the effects a three-day weekend would have on workers' performance.
Company executives said the shorter working week resulted (5) ____ additional
benefits. Productivity rose by 40 per cent and 92 percent of employees expressed their
satisfaction with the scheme. The trial could lead to a change in Japan's (6) ____
workplace practices of long hours and lots of overtime.

Microsoft called the trial the Work-Life Choice Challenge. The company said it aimed,
"to create an environment where (7) ____ employee can choose a diverse and flexible
way of working according to the (8) ____ of their work and life". Other aspects of the
trial included shortening the length of meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes and
encouraging workers to choose online chats (9) ____ face-to-face ones. There were
additional advantages to the trial. Microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity was (10)
____ and 59 per cent fewer pages were printed compared (11) ____ August 2018.
Microsoft will conduct another experiment in Japan later this year and has asked
employees for their (12) ____.

Which of these words go in the above text?

1. (a) successes (b) success (c) successful (d) successfully

2. (a) on (b) as (c) at (d) in
3. (a) ghost's (b) giant's (c) ogre's (d) spirit's
4. (a) levity (b) leaven (c) leave (d) lever
5. (a) by (b) of (c) in (d) to
6. (a) infamous (b) posthumous (c) anonymous (d) mousy
7. (a) per (b) each (c) all (d) whole
8. (a) circumstances (b) circumference (c) cucumber (d) circumnavigates
9. (a) under (b) over (c) through (d) though
10. (a) consumes (b) consumer (c) consumed (d) consumption
11. (a) by (b) at (c) with (d) of
12. (a) strain (b) adapt (c) plug (d) input
Spelling

Paragraph 1

1. the tech giant's treurdqahsea

2. moietnrod the effects
3. Company sxecteivue
4. additional inetbfse
5. satisfaction with the eechms
6. Japan's fonsauim workplace practices

Paragraph 2

7. create an vntmnineero
8. a eidresv and flexible way
9. cgroadcni to the circumstances
10. Other etsscap of the trial
11. gunoagrecin workers to choose
12. conduct another rmpeeetnxi

Put the words in the right order

1. took place over The the trial summer .

2. Friday every leave . off got as paid Employees
3. three-day have . weekend a effects Monitored the would
4. in week The working benefits . shorter resulted additional
5. change workplace A infamous Japan's practices . in
6. an environment employee where each choose . can Create
7. circumstances according the Working their life . to of
8. the meetings . The trial of included shortening length
9. the trial . There additional advantages were to
10. year . later this Japan Conduct in another experiment
Put the text back together:

A. (...) resulted in additional benefits. Productivity rose by 40 per cent and 92 per cent
of
B. (...) change in Japan's infamous workplace practices of long hours and lots of
overtime.
C. (...) in workers' productivity and job satisfaction. The trial took place over the
summer at the tech giant's
D. (...) employees expressed their satisfaction with the scheme. The trial could lead to
a
E. ( 1 ) The technology company Microsoft has said it successfully trialed a four-day
working week in Japan, which saw improvements
F. (...) weekend would have on workers' performance. Company executives said the
shorter working week
G. (...) headquarters in Tokyo. Employees were given every Friday off as paid leave in
August. The company monitored the effects a three-day

H. (...) environment where each employee can choose a diverse and flexible way of
working according to the
I. (...) pages were printed compared with August 2018. Microsoft will conduct another
J. (...) Microsoft called the trial the Work-Life Choice Challenge. The company said it
aimed, "to create an
K. (...) of 30 minutes and encouraging workers to choose online chats over face-to-face
ones. There were additional
L. (...) experiment in Japan later this year and has asked employees for their input.
M. (...) circumstances of their work and life". Other aspects of the trial included
shortening the length of meetings to a maximum
N. (...) advantages to the trial. Microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity was
consumed and 59 per cent fewer
Circle the correct word (20 pairs)

The technology company Microsoft has said it successfully trailed / trialed a four-day
working week in Japan, which saw / viewed improvements in workers' productivity and
job satisfaction. The trial took place over the summer at the tech ogre's /
giant's headquarters in Tokyo. Employees were given every Friday off as paid arrive /
leave in August. The company monitored the affects / effects a three-day weekend
would have on / in workers' performance. Company executives said the shorter /
shorten working week resulted in additional benefits. Productivity rose / arose by 40 per
cent and 92 per cent of employees expressed their satisfied / satisfaction with the
scheme. The trial could lead to a change in Japan's infamy / infamous workplace
practices of long hours and lots of overtime.

Microsoft called the trial the Work-Life Choice Challenge. The company said it target /
aimed, "to create an environment which / where each employee can choose a diversion
/ diverse and flexible way of working accordance / according to the circumstances of
their work and life / live". Other aspects of the trial included shortening the length /
longing of meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes and encouraging workers to choose
online chats over face-to-face one / ones. There were additional advantages to / on the
trial. Microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity was eaten / consumed and 59 per
cent fewer pages were printed compared with August 2018. Microsoft will conduct
another experiment in Japan later this year and has asked employees for their input /
spurt.
Punctuate the text and add capitals

the technology company microsoft has said it successfully trialed a fourday working
week in japan which saw improvements in workers productivity and job satisfaction the
trial took place over the summer at the tech giants headquarters in tokyo employees
were given every friday off as paid leave in august the company monitored the effects a
threeday weekend would have on workers performance company executives said the
shorter working week resulted in additional benefits productivity rose by 40 per cent and
92 per cent of employees expressed their satisfaction with the scheme the trial could
lead to a change in japans infamous workplace practices of long hours and lots of
overtime

microsoft called the trial the worklife choice challenge the company said it aimed to
create an environment where each employee can choose a diverse and flexible way of
working according to the circumstances of their work and life other aspects of the trial
included shortening the length of meetings to a maximum of 30 minutes and
encouraging workers to choose online chats over facetoface ones there were additional
advantages to the trial microsoft said that 23 per cent less electricity was consumed and
59 per cent fewer pages were printed compared with august 2018 microsoft will conduct
another experiment in japan later this year and has asked employees for their input

Put a slash (/) where the spaces are

ThetechnologycompanyMicrosofthassaiditsuccessfullytrialedafour-
dayworkingweekinJapan,whichsawimprovementsinworkers'produc
tivityandjobsatisfaction.Thetrialtookplaceoverthesummeratthetech
giant'sheadquartersinTokyo.EmployeesweregiveneveryFridayoffas
paidleaveinAugust.Thecompanymonitoredtheeffectsathree-daywe
ekendwouldhaveonworkers'performance.Companyexecutivessaidt
heshorterworkingweekresultedinadditionalbenefits.Productivityros
eby40percentand92percentofemployeesexpressedtheirsatisfaction
withthescheme.ThetrialcouldleadtoachangeinJapan'sinfamouswork
placepracticesoflonghoursandlotsofovertime.Microsoftcalledthetria
ltheWork-LifeChoiceChallenge.Thecompanysaiditaimed,"tocreatea
nenvironmentwhereeachemployeecanchooseadiverseandflexiblew
ayofworkingaccordingtothecircumstancesoftheirworkandlife".Othe
raspectsofthetrialincludedshorteningthelengthofmeetingstoamaxi
mumof30minutesandencouragingworkerstochooseonlinechatsover
face-to-faceones.Therewereadditionaladvantagestothetrial.Micro
softsaidthat23percentlesselectricitywasconsumedand59percentfe
werpageswereprintedcomparedwithAugust2018.Microsoftwillcond
uctanotherexperimentinJapanlaterthisyearandhasaskedemployees
fortheirinput.

Discussion - 4-Day Work Week

1. What did you think when you read the headline?

2. What images are in your mind when you hear the word 'work'?
3. How hard do you work?
4. How productive are you?
5. Is a four-day working week a good idea?
6. How satisfied are you with your job?
7. How important is job satisfaction?
8. Why might productivity rise with a shorter working week?
9. Would a four-day working week work for every company?
10. What is overtime like in your country?

11. Did you like reading this article? Why/not?

12. What do you think of when you hear the word 'week'?
13. What do you think about what you read?
14. What are your ideal working conditions?
15. What do you think of long meetings?
16. Are online chats better than face-to-face chats?
17. How might a shorter working week be good for the environment?
18. What do you think of Microsoft?
19. What do you think of working?
20. What questions would you like to ask the Microsoft bosses?