裁員與防禦性招聘
According to an August survey by global consulting firm PwC, a majority of US businesses have recently reported strategies aimed at both decreasing workforces as well as increasing workers’ salary and benefits, including offering more flexible options for working remotely. Although these findings do not seem to correlate, they clearly “illustrate the contradictory nature of today’s labor market.”
根據國際管理諮詢公司普華永道8月份的一項調查，大多數美國企業最近都宣布縮編和提高員工薪資與福利的策略，包括提供較彈性的遠端工作選項。儘管這些發現似乎並不相關，但清楚「說明了當今勞動力市場的矛盾」。
consulting(adj.)提供諮詢的;承接諮詢業務的aimed at…著眼於…;目標是…;旨在…=targeted at…workforce(n.)(國家、地區)勞動力;勞動人口、(公司)全體員工;人力資源working remotely遠距工作correlate(v.)與⋯⋯相關;相互關聯contradictory(adj.)相互矛盾的;相互衝突的
Of the 700 US executives polled last month by PwC, results related to hiring are some of the most telling.
在普華永道上個月調查的700名美國高階主管中，與招聘相關的結果是最能說明問題的。
poll(n.)意見調查(v.)調查telling(adj.)說明問題的;顯露真實情況的;流露內心想法的
In addition to half of the respondents noting headcount reduction through layoffs, 52% of responding organizations are implementing hiring freezes.
除了一半的受訪者表示透過裁員減少員工人數外，52％受訪的機構正在凍結招聘。
respondent(n.)回覆者headcount(n.)數人頭;清點人數;(某公司)員工人數implement(v.)實行;實施=carry outhiring freezes凍結招聘
However, these are not just limited to smaller startups, as big employers, such as Oracle, Walmart and Apple, are among those to announce such cutbacks.
然而，這些不僅限於較小的新創公司，甲骨文、沃爾瑪和蘋果等大企業都宣布裁員。
be limited to...侷限於...cutback(n.)削減;縮減
Other defensive hiring practices, including rescinding job offers and doing away with sign-on bonuses, are also being utilized by about 40% of respondents.
大約40％的受訪者也在實行防禦性招聘，包括取消工作機會和廢除簽約獎金。
defensive(adj.)防禦(性)的;防守的offensive(adj.)進攻的;攻擊(性)的rescind(v.)廢除、取消、撤銷rescind the contract解除合約do away with廢除;消除do away with nuclear weapons消滅核子武器sign-on bonuses簽約獎金utilize(v.)採用;採納=adopt
As employers weigh how “reputational damage and employee morale” will be affected by these moves, the vast majority of respondents also reported some good news for employees.
在雇主權衡這些舉措將如何影響「公司負評和員工士氣」時，絕大多數受訪者也為員工捎來好消息。
weigh(v.)秤重;考慮;權衡reputation(n.)名聲;聲譽reputational(adj.)名聲的;聲譽的the vast majority of…絕大多數的
In fact, 64% of employers claimed that they are increasing compensation for workers.
事實上，64％的雇主稱他們將增加給員工的報酬。
in fact=as a matter of fact事實上compensation(n.)賠償、報酬
In addition, the survey notes that employee healthcare will also be expanding, especially in regard to mental health benefits.
此外，調查指出，員工醫療保健也將擴大範圍，尤其在心理健康福利方面。
in regard to 與…相關=with regard to=regarding
Skilled workers in some industries, who are still at a premium amid talent shortages, could greatly benefit from these changes.
某些產業的技術人員在人才短缺的情況下炙手可熱，可望從這些變化中獲益匪淺。
at a premium 稀缺、非常難得、供不應求benefit from…得益於;獲益於=gain from…
Additionally, 70% of surveyed businesses reported the expansion of options for workers to permanently work remotely.
此外，70％的受訪企業指出，正讓更多員工可以選擇永久遠端工作。
surveyed(adj.)接受調查的=polled
Conversely, 61% of respondents said that they are requiring employees to be on-site more frequently.
相反地，61％的受訪者表示他們要求員工更頻繁地進公司。
conversely(adv.)相反地=on the contrary=contrarilyon-site(adj.)(adv.)就地(的);在現場(的)
Despite the obvious contradictions of these strategies, some organizations may be simultaneously focusing on both of them to optimize employees’ effectiveness.
儘管這些策略存在明顯的矛盾，但一些組織同時間有此雙向考量，可能是希望優化員工的工作成效。
despite(prep.)儘管=in spite ofcontradiction(n.)矛盾simultaneously(adv.)同時、同步optimize(v.)使優化、完善effective(adj.)有效的effectiveness(n.)有效性
For many companies, positions “that don’t require much in-person collaboration could go remote for good, while other staffers could be required to get back to their desks a few times a week.”
對許多公司而言，「不需要太多面對面協作的職位可以永久遠距，而其他員工則可能被要求每週回到辦公室幾次。」
for good永遠;永久while(conj.)而;然而=whereas
As businesses balance these offensive and defensive strategies, workers will just have to adjust themselves to these new changes.
隨著企業平衡這些進攻和防禦策略，員工們也只好挑整自己去適應這些變動。
balance(v.)使平衡;使保持平衡;權衡adjust to sth.適應某事=get used to sth.