The Green Party have suggested that the UK should adopt a four day week, three day weekend system. On face value, this looks excellent. More time to relax; less time stuck at work; a chance for family and friends to see one another for longer. However, digging deeper, I don't think an extra day added to the weekend is a suitable solution to problems people face at work.
Caroline Lucas, the Green's co-leader, said people are "bringing our work home in the evenings.'' Apparently a three day weekend would allow people to relax more, forgetting about their worries at work. To me, this seems illogical. The same amount of work would have be completed in a shorter space of time. Surely the pressure of having to complete five days worth of work in four days would increase stress levels, reducing performance and result in failed targets. Without doubt, people would take this stress home, wishing they could have performed better, or be given more time to complete the job. The Green Party talk about a three day weekend helping ''ill health and mental health problems'' that people experience because of a long working week. However, an addition weekend day might result in people sitting down for longer, reducing exercise levels compared to a work day. From experience, I'm far more likely to indulge in unhealthy but tasty foods at the weekend. I'm unlikely to properly burn off the calories until my Monday walk to school. The way to improve psychical health is to encourage regular exercise and deter consumption of unhealthy food. As for mental health, which I'm very pleased is being discussed, there should be a free phone number where counselling is available, accessible to all staff. At my charity shop, there is a phone number which offers help, advice and support available to every volunteer. A three day weekend will apparently reduce ''growing inequality.'' It's unclear how. If someone is working fewer hours per week than before, they are surely going to be earning less. This would reduce their take home pay, and the amount of tax the Government could collect. As for the wealthiest, I'm sure they would find a loophole in the system, allowing them to take multiple jobs while paying little taxes, increasing inequality. The solution to inequality is raising wages for working people, while ensuring the wealthy simply pay their share, not to reduce working hours. I can't see how this policy would be feasible with children's education. Attending school for only four days a week would reduce the amount of content that could be taught. Over time, this would reduce the spectrum of education, limit the standard of the UK's education compared to the rest of the world. Granted, some of the things school teaches is slightly useless, and some days could be better spent exploring the real world, but the idea of taking away a whole day of education worries me. Supporters say that an extra day off could reduce the huge amounts of air pollution caused by daily rush hour commuters. They could be right, however I feel an extra weekend day would increase air pollution. During the weekend, people are more likely to be travelling in individual cars throughout the day. This compares to a higher use of public transport only at rush hour during the week. Using individual vehicles will release far more air pollutants than public transport, increasing emissions. That isn't to say that people shouldn't visit relatives or enjoy leisure over the weekend, but I do not think a longer weekend will cancel out commuter pollution. The Green's talked about the ''sort of country we want to be seen as.'' I personally want the UK to be seen as a country that encourages hard work with fair rewards. I want the UK to be seen as somewhere where help is readily available if work is stressful. I want the UK to be seen as somewhere where people can aspire to be wealthy, provided they pay all their taxes. Bold ideas about working life are needed - this policy is certainly bold. However, I do not think three day weekends are an appropriate solution.
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