'Bare minimum Mondays' can set employees up for a productive week

With just two days of rest before starting a 40-hour or more workweek, it's no surprise that Mondays are so widely dreaded. But are the "Monday blues" getting in the way of work?

LinkedIn found that out of the 2,000 workers they surveyed, 75% experienced the Sunday scaries, or feelings of anxiety and stress about starting another workweek. On top of that, workers are more burned out now than they were in 2021, with 42% feeling burnout compared to 38%, according to research group Future Forum. Many workers likely enter work on Monday tired and anxious for the week ahead, but managed right, doing the bare minimum can actually set a more positive tone for the week ahead. 

"'Bare minimum Mondays' is a trend that's been derived from other trends that we've seen in the last four months, such as quiet quitting," says Andrew Hunter, economist and co-founder of global job search engine Adzuna. "Many people may think of it as employees slacking off and doing less work at the beginning of the week, but having that space to ease into a busy week can be beneficial."

Read more: 4 ways work is changing in 2023

For Hunter, Mondays are an opportunity for workers to consider what they want to accomplish that week and line up their priorities. He even encourages managers to reevaluate what they expect from employees first thing Monday morning; if it can be helped, big meetings and project deadlines should be balanced throughout the week instead.

"We've all been there on Sunday night, panicking about what's coming up on Monday and the volume of work or meetings we have," says Hunter. "There needs to be heightened focus on mental health and well-being instead of just putting the foot on the gas at 9 a.m. on Monday."

Ultimately, trends like bare minimum Mondays and quiet quitting are rooted in worker burnout and other mental health challenges employees may not have the resources or time to address, underlines Hunter. While some employers have looked to expand their wellness benefits, or go as far as to introduce a four-day workweek, Hunter notes that those in hourly jobs outside an office do not often get the same benefits or even two consecutive days off to rest. Hunter asks that employers at least be flexible on a day-to-day basis, and give workers the space to step away from work without penalty, regardless of their industry.

Read more: 25% of workers don't trust their employers

"It's clear workers in 2023 are feeling the weight of all this stress," says Hunter. "And that's something employers should take really seriously."

Workplace culture can also be blamed for feelings of burnout and stress — for the sake of productivity and retention, employers may want to rethink their culture if employees dread being there on Monday. Hunter believes flexibility and communication are essential to any work culture that wants to prioritize well-being.

"We are an employee-first organization where we allow people to work remote, flexible hours," says Hunter. "We also have a clear idea of what metrics and deliverables we want to do across every 90-day period, so people can pace their work more evenly."

Read more: 10 companies with the best culture, according to employees

Hunter warns managers against underestimating communication of expectations and goals. If employees feel they have more control over their time, they aren't as likely to be overwhelmed, even on Monday morning. 

"If there's alignment between boss and employee on mid-term to long-term things, that immediately alleviates stress," says Hunter. "And openly give employees permission to focus on their mental health outside and inside the workplace."