Text 1: Economist Dr. Robert Flynn argues that remote work boosts productivity. "Studies show remote employees work longer hours, take fewer breaks, and report higher job satisfaction," Flynn writes. "Companies that embrace flexible work arrangements gain competitive advantages in talent recruitment."
Text 2: Organizational psychologist Dr. Nina Torres cautions against overemphasizing remote work benefits. "While some employees thrive remotely, others struggle with isolation and blurred work-life boundaries," Torres explains. "Productivity depends heavily on job type, individual personality, and home environment. One-size-fits-all policies ignore this complexity."
Both Flynn and Torres would most likely agree with which of the following statements?
Remote work should be mandatory for all knowledge workers
Remote work arrangements can affect employee productivity
Traditional office environments are obsolete
Companies should prioritize employee preferences over efficiency
Correct Answer: B
Choice B is the correct answer. Both acknowledge a connection between remote work and productivity—Flynn sees positive effects, Torres says effects depend on circumstances. They agree productivity is affected, just not how.
- Evidence: Flynn cites productivity gains; Torres says "productivity depends heavily on" various factors.
- Reasoning: Both connect remote work to productivity outcomes, though with different conclusions.
- Conclusion: The shared ground is that remote work impacts productivity.
Choice A is incorrect because Torres emphasizes variability, not universal mandates. Choice C is incorrect because neither declares offices obsolete. Choice D is incorrect because neither prioritizes preferences over efficiency directly.