9/5 (Tue.) The Four-Day Workweek and Reducing Working Hours Debate (Host: Sherry)

[Sherry Liao]

Dear YOYOs,

Earlier this year, two petitions on labor rights were posted on the National Development Council’s Public Policy Online Participation Platform (公共政策網路參與平台), both of which later passed the required threshold for a government response. One of them was “making Taiwan the first country in Asia to have a three-day weekend”, and the other one was “reducing working hours to 6-7 hours per day and 30-35 hours per week”. Both petitions were later dismissed by the government as “not feasible”.

Where do you stand? Do you agree with the government that the petitions are impractical based on current Labor conditions in Taiwan? Do you support that the government should push for legal amendment to improve Labor conditions? Or do you have other opinions? Please join us next Tuesday to discuss these issues.

Session I: The Four-Day Workweek issue

Reading material (for your reference only)
Petitions on shorter workweek, fewer working hours denied
81% of full-time workers want a 4-day work week – and they’re willing to make sacrifices to get it
Four-day week: Which countries have embraced it and how’s it going so far?

Questions for Discussion
Q1. Do you agree with the petition to “make Taiwan the first country in Asia to have a three-day weekend”? Why or why not? What is the advantage and disadvantage of working four days a week?
Q2. If the Legislative Yuan passed a bill requiring a four-day workweek, would you prefer a three-day weekend, or a one day off in the middle of the week and two days on the weekend? Why?
Q3. Do you agree with a four-day workweek keeping the same 40 hours and the same pay? Which 40-hour workweek schedule would you prefer: four 10-hour days or five 8-hour days per week? Why?
Q4. Do you think working a four-day week is good or bad for productivity? If the education system also adopted a four-day schoolweek, would it have an impact on student performance?
Q5. As an employee, if you could only choose one, which one would you choose: working four days a week or reducing working hour? Why?

Session II: The Reducing Working Hours issue

Reading material (for your reference only)
Employment and Employee Benefits in Taiwan: Overview
62% of Taiwan's employees willing to forgo higher salaries or job promotions for work-life balance: Michael Page
Exploring Taiwan Working Culture In 2023: Key Differences & Strengths
Taiwan ranked 4th in survey on work hours
Was Keynes Right on Short Work Weeks?

Questions for Discussion
Q1. Do you agree with the petition to “reduce working hours to 6-7 hours per day and 30-35 hours per week”? Why or why not? Do you think there are generational differences is such opinions? Are young people more likely to agree with the petition?
Q2. In your opinion, which of the following are the top motivators at work: salaries (and bonuses), promotion, work-life balance, overall well-being, and happiness. Do you think there are generational differences is such opinions?
Q3. A survey shows that Taiwan ranks 4th in the world in terms of working hours (based on 2019 data). What do you think is the reason that employees in Taiwan worked longer hours than the rest of the world (with the exception of the other three countries)?
Q4. In 1930, the famous economist J.M. Keynes predicted that, by 2030, the average workweek would decrease to around 15 hours (3 hours per workday). Why did the prediction of Keynes fail?
Q5. Why do people work overtime? Do you think Taiwan has a culture of long working hours? Is it possible to fight the culture?

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Agenda:
6:45 ~ 7:00pm Greetings & Free Talk / Ordering Beverage or Meal / Getting Newcomer’s Information
7:00 ~ 7:10pm Opening Remarks / Newcomer’s Self-introduction / Grouping
(Session I)
7:10 ~ 7:45pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
7:45 ~ 8:00pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:00 ~ 8:05pm Regrouping / Instruction Giving / Taking a 5 Minutes Break (Intermission)
(Session II)
8:05 ~ 8:40pm Discussion Session (35 mins)
8:40 ~ 8:55pm Summarization (15 mins)
8:55 ~ 9:00pm Concluding Remarks / Announcements

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Meeting Date: As shown on the Subject Line
Meeting Time: 7:00pm – 9:00pm
Meeting Venue: 丹堤咖啡 Dante Coffee (Minimum Order $85)
Address: 台北市濟南路三段25號[MAP]-捷運忠孝新生站3號出口步行3分鐘

Important Notes:
1. We advise participants to print out the discussion questions and bring them to the meeting for reference. As for the supporting articles, feel free to print them out, as well, according to your preference.
2. We suggest that participants read the articles and think about the questions in advance.
3. Newcomers should prepare a two-to-three minute self-introduction in English to deliver when called upon by the host before the start of the discussion. The host may also ask you to give brief feedback about the meeting at the conclusion of the meeting.
4. We conduct the entire meeting in English. All participants should have at least moderate English-conversation skills and be able to articulate your ideas for each discussion question.
5. We welcome newcomers and other guests to attend the meetings and join the discussion freely for two times. After that, we hope you will consider becoming a YoYo English Club member. We charge a NT$1500 lifetime membership fee, or NT$1000 for students.

[miller]

Move to the top.

[Iris Wu]

Considering I'm now basking in the glory of retirement after years of pulling all-nighters, I'd say to you young folks: the baton's been passed! Time to clock in and pay your dues - no less than 40 hours in a workweek!

Seriously, having everyone work on the same Monday-through-Friday, 9-to-5 schedule doesn’t make any sense. It simply creates a perfect storm of commuting nightmares, bank (or any public) service inconvenience, and travel congestion, among other issues.

Back in 2006, the place where I worked had already implemented various work schedules. We could choose from a few options: one day per week WFH, a 4/10 (10 working hours in 4 workdays), or a 9/80 schedule (80 working hours spread over 9 days in a two-week period)

Personally, I found that a floating day off was incredibly helpful. It allowed me to run errands that could only be done on weekdays. In addition, it made it easier for me to arrange our vacations during off-peak times.

[Sherry Liao]

Considering I'm now basking in the glory of retirement after years of pulling all-nighters, I'd say to you young folks: the baton's been passed! Time to clock in and pay your dues - no less than 40 hours in a workweek!

Seriously, having everyone work on the same Monday-through-Friday, 9-to-5 schedule doesn’t make any sense. It simply creates a perfect storm of commuting nightmares, bank (or any public) service inconvenience, and travel congestion, among other issues.

Back in 2006, the place where I worked had already implemented various work schedules. We could choose from a few options: one day per week WFH, a 4/10 (10 working hours in 4 workdays), or a 9/80 schedule (80 working hours spread over 9 days in a two-week period)

Personally, I found that a floating day off was incredibly helpful. It allowed me to run errands that could only be done on weekdays. In addition, it made it easier for me to arrange our vacations during off-peak times.

Our company also adopts flexible working hours. The rules are a bit complicated, but generally speaking, employees must work at least 4 hours per workday and meet monthly work time requirements (number of workdays of the month multiplied by 8 hours) within a month.

However, as a traditional company with a traditional culture, things are not always what they seem. Some departments have stricter intra-department attendance rules. And in general, in order not to leave a bad impression on their supervisors, most employees stick to traditional commuting and off-duty hours, unless there is something that really needs to be handled outside the company.

I think work culture matters. Even if governments or companies relax working time rules, it is difficult not to be influenced by the attitudes, beliefs and behaviors of colleagues and supervisors around.

[Rock]

If it applied to schools, then the kids would have a much easier life. I don't think it would happen.

[Sherry Liao]

If it applied to schools, then the kids would have a much easier life. I don't think it would happen.

What if classes end at 6 o'clock from Monday to Thursday and there are no classes on Friday? Then the kids may not need to attend after-school tutoring classes, I guess.