英検1級 二次 予想トピック 69 ・ 🏠 暮らし・家族・消費 ・ Should ~?
Should workers have a legal right to ignore work messages outside working hours?
働く人には、勤務時間外の仕事の連絡に応じなくてよい法的な権利があるべきか。
勤務時間外のメールやチャットに悩んだ経験がある人向け。
骨組み理由3つ(どちらの立場でも話せる)
賛成(Yes)で話すなら
I believe workers should have a legal right to ignore work messages outside working hours.
- mental healthBeing constantly available causes stress and makes it hard to rest. Without real breaks, workers are more likely to suffer from burnout.
- international trendSeveral countries have already introduced this right. France did so in 2017, and Australia introduced a similar right in 2024.
- productivityRested workers are more focused and productive. Companies that respect private time may also find it easier to attract and keep good employees.
反対(No)で話すなら
I don't believe a strict legal right is the best solution.
- flexibilityMany people now work flexible hours, so there is no single fixed working time. A strict law could cause problems for people who prefer to work at night or who work with colleagues abroad.
- emergenciesSome jobs, such as those in healthcare or IT, require quick responses to urgent problems. A legal right to ignore messages could cause serious trouble in these cases.
- company cultureThe real problem is company culture, not the lack of a law. Clear rules agreed between managers and staff can work better than one law for every industry.
模範スピーチ賛成の立場で2分(255語)
序論Thank you. I'd like to talk about whether workers should have a legal right to ignore work messages outside working hours. I believe they should, for three reasons: health, productivity, and the need for a clear rule. 理由1First, being constantly connected to work is bad for our health. With smartphones, many people check work emails late at night or even on vacation. They never truly rest, and this can lead to stress, poor sleep, and eventually burnout. A legal right to disconnect would give people real time to recover. 理由2Second, it would actually help companies. Rested workers are more focused, more creative, and less likely to make mistakes. Firms that respect their staff's private time may also find it easier to attract and keep good employees, which is especially important now that Japan faces a serious labor shortage. 理由3Third, a law is needed because individual workers find it hard to say no. In Japan, there is often an unspoken pressure to reply quickly, especially to a boss. France introduced a right to disconnect in 2017, and Australia has introduced a similar right more recently. A legal rule would protect workers who would otherwise feel unable to refuse. 譲歩Of course, some jobs involve real emergencies, and some people prefer flexible working hours. However, the law could allow exceptions for urgent situations and still protect most workers in ordinary cases. まとめIn conclusion, because it protects workers' health, helps companies, and gives people the power to say no, I believe workers should have this legal right. Thank you.
和訳
ありがとうございます。働く人には、勤務時間外の仕事の連絡に応じなくてよい法的な権利があるべきかについてお話しします。私はあるべきだと考えます。理由は3つ、健康、生産性、そしてはっきりしたルールの必要性です。 まず、いつも仕事とつながっている状態は健康に悪いものです。スマートフォンのせいで、夜遅くや休暇中にまで仕事のメールを確認する人が多くいます。本当の意味で休むことがなく、それがストレスや睡眠不足、ついには燃え尽きにつながりかねません。つながらない権利が法律で認められれば、人は回復するための本当の時間を持てます。 次に、これは実は会社のためにもなります。十分に休んだ社員は集中力と創造性が高く、ミスもしにくくなります。社員の私的な時間を尊重する会社は、優秀な人材を集め、引き留めやすくなるかもしれません。日本が深刻な人手不足に直面している今、これは特に重要です。 3つ目に、一人ひとりの働く人が断りにくいからこそ、法律が必要なのです。日本では、特に上司に対して、すぐに返信しなければという暗黙の圧力があることがよくあります。フランスは2017年につながらない権利を導入し、オーストラリアもより最近、同じような権利を導入しました。法律のルールがあれば、そうでなければ断れないと感じる働く人を守れます。 もちろん、本当に緊急事態がある仕事もあり、柔軟な勤務時間を好む人もいます。しかし、法律で緊急時の例外を認めても、通常の場合のほとんどの働く人は守れます。 結論として、働く人の健康を守り、会社のためにもなり、断る力を与えるという理由から、働く人にはこの法的な権利があるべきだと考えます。ありがとうございました。
想定質疑面接委員はこう突っ込んでくる
QWouldn't this law cause problems for companies that work with clients in different time zones?
That's a fair point. Admittedly, global businesses need some flexibility. However, the law could allow companies to make special arrangements, such as shift systems, with their employees. The key is that contact at night should be planned and paid, not simply expected.
Q:時差のある国の顧客と取引する会社には、この法律が問題になりませんか。
A:もっともなご指摘です。確かに、海外とやり取りする企業にはある程度の柔軟さが必要です。しかし法律で、交代制など社員との特別な取り決めを認めることはできます。大切なのは、夜の連絡を当然のこととせず、計画したうえで賃金も払うことです。
QHow should companies decide what counts as an emergency?
I think each company should agree on clear rules with its workers in advance. For example, a system failure affecting customers might count as an emergency, but a question about next week's meeting would not. Clear examples would help avoid confusion.
Q:何が緊急事態にあたるのかを、会社はどう決めるべきですか。
A:それぞれの会社が、前もって社員とはっきりしたルールを決めておくべきだと思います。例えば、顧客に影響するシステム障害は緊急事態にあたりますが、来週の会議についての質問はあたりません。具体的な例を示せば、混乱を避けられます。
QIs this mainly a problem in Japan?
I don't think it's only a Japanese problem, as many countries are discussing it. However, Japan's culture of long working hours and strong loyalty to the company may make it more serious here. That's why I think a legal rule would be especially useful in Japan.
Q:これは主に日本の問題ですか。
A:多くの国で議論されているので、日本だけの問題ではないと思います。ただ、長時間労働や会社への強い忠誠心という日本の文化のせいで、日本ではより深刻かもしれません。だからこそ、法律のルールは日本で特に役立つと思います。
語彙このトピックで使える表現
- right to disconnectつながらない権利
- burnout燃え尽き症候群
- outside working hours勤務時間外に
- unspoken pressure暗黙の圧力
- work-life balance仕事と生活の両立