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01 Feb 2025, 09:27
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Difficulty:
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73% (01:22) correct
27%
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wrong
based on 133
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A recent study found that employees who take regular short breaks during work hours are, on average, 20% more productive than those who do not. Some managers argue that eliminating breaks altogether would maximize work hours and thus increase productivity.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the managers' argument?
A) Employees who take breaks often use the time to discuss work-related matters, leading to creative solutions.
B) The study controlled for factors such as industry, job type, and average working hours.
C) Companies that enforce break-free workdays report higher turnover rates.
D) Employees who take short breaks report higher job satisfaction than those who do not.
E) Fatigue due to continuous work results in declining efficiency over time
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the managers' argument?
A) Employees who take breaks often use the time to discuss work-related matters, leading to creative solutions.
B) The study controlled for factors such as industry, job type, and average working hours.
C) Companies that enforce break-free workdays report higher turnover rates.
D) Employees who take short breaks report higher job satisfaction than those who do not.
E) Fatigue due to continuous work results in declining efficiency over time
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03 Feb 2025, 05:30
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The managers' argument is based on the assumption that eliminating breaks will lead to more work hours and therefore higher productivity. However, if it is true that continuous work without breaks leads to fatigue, which in turn causes efficiency to decline over time, then the extra work hours gained by eliminating breaks would not necessarily translate into increased productivity. In fact, the productivity per hour could drop as employees become tired.
Let's briefly consider the other answer choices:
A) While discussing work-related matters during breaks might boost creativity, it does not directly address the core issue of declining efficiency due to fatigue when breaks are eliminated.
B) The fact that the study controlled for various factors supports the validity of the study's findings but does not weaken the managers’ argument.
C) Higher turnover rates might indicate other issues (such as dissatisfaction) with break-free policies, but turnover does not directly measure productivity during work hours.
D) Higher job satisfaction from taking breaks is a positive outcome, but it does not directly challenge the managers’ claim regarding productivity gains from eliminating breaks.
Therefore, E most seriously weakens the managers’ argument by showing that continuous work without breaks leads to fatigue, which reduces efficiency over time, ultimately negating the potential benefits of extra work hours.
Let's briefly consider the other answer choices:
A) While discussing work-related matters during breaks might boost creativity, it does not directly address the core issue of declining efficiency due to fatigue when breaks are eliminated.
B) The fact that the study controlled for various factors supports the validity of the study's findings but does not weaken the managers’ argument.
C) Higher turnover rates might indicate other issues (such as dissatisfaction) with break-free policies, but turnover does not directly measure productivity during work hours.
D) Higher job satisfaction from taking breaks is a positive outcome, but it does not directly challenge the managers’ claim regarding productivity gains from eliminating breaks.
Therefore, E most seriously weakens the managers’ argument by showing that continuous work without breaks leads to fatigue, which reduces efficiency over time, ultimately negating the potential benefits of extra work hours.
05 Feb 2025, 07:09
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Conclusion: Eliminating breaks altogether would maximise work hours and thus increase productivity.
Ideas to weaken: There is something which doesn't let them mx work hours or increase productivity
1. They call/chat their friends and family during the break but will be distracted if they don't get the breaks
2. People use the breaks to connect with their managers to discuss critical items which they need to proceed and are otherwise, unable to get hold of the managers
3. People get tired without breaks, make errors which leads to repeat work...
A) Employees who take breaks often use the time to discuss work-related matters, leading to creative solutions.
This is a trap answer. The only concern is the result is creative not necessarily productive
B) The study controlled for factors such as industry, job type, and average working hours.
That's good to know. It strengthens the premise but doesn't weaken the manager's claim. Nobody is doubting the study
C) Companies that enforce break-free workdays report higher turnover rates.
This is not a concern, irrelevant
D) Employees who take short breaks report higher job satisfaction than those who do not.
Employee job satisfaction rating is irrelevant. this doesn't weaken my conclusion. Employees job rating is still high without breaks, good for the managers. If it isn't, but the productivity is increased, no body cares
E) Fatigue due to continuous work results in declining efficiency over time
This makes sense, if they are tired and efficiency decreases then productivity won't increase
Ideas to weaken: There is something which doesn't let them mx work hours or increase productivity
1. They call/chat their friends and family during the break but will be distracted if they don't get the breaks
2. People use the breaks to connect with their managers to discuss critical items which they need to proceed and are otherwise, unable to get hold of the managers
3. People get tired without breaks, make errors which leads to repeat work...
A) Employees who take breaks often use the time to discuss work-related matters, leading to creative solutions.
This is a trap answer. The only concern is the result is creative not necessarily productive
B) The study controlled for factors such as industry, job type, and average working hours.
That's good to know. It strengthens the premise but doesn't weaken the manager's claim. Nobody is doubting the study
C) Companies that enforce break-free workdays report higher turnover rates.
This is not a concern, irrelevant
D) Employees who take short breaks report higher job satisfaction than those who do not.
Employee job satisfaction rating is irrelevant. this doesn't weaken my conclusion. Employees job rating is still high without breaks, good for the managers. If it isn't, but the productivity is increased, no body cares
E) Fatigue due to continuous work results in declining efficiency over time
This makes sense, if they are tired and efficiency decreases then productivity won't increase
bhargavhhhhhhhh
Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Critical Reasoning (CR) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
