Are Mondays still the best way to kickstart the workweek?

The workforce is experiencing a profound split on how to best start the week, generating a noticeable tension between employer expectations and employee preferences.

As businesses increasingly adapt to hybrid work environments, the question of whether Mondays should be reserved for office attendance or embraced as a flexible workday is stirring debate among professionals and organisations alike.

Traditionally, Mondays have been viewed as the cornerstone of productivity, setting the stage for collaboration and effective planning. However, a recent survey from Robert Walters reveals shifting perspectives on the value of Mondays. While 46% of employees consider Mondays to be the most important day of the workweek, almost two-thirds (65%) express a preference for working from home at the week's start, suggesting a growing desire for flexibility in how the workweek is structured.

The mixed outlook on productivity

The survey further highlights a nuanced view of workplace dynamics. A quarter (25%) of respondents reported enhanced productivity when they are in the office on Mondays. Yet, the allure of a more relaxed start to the week appears significant, with 35% of employees asserting that they prefer to avoid the office on Mondays altogether. Common concerns include the hardships of the Monday commute (35%) and the wish for a more peaceful Sunday evening (19%).

With only 37% of professionals indicating they would actively choose to be in the office on Mondays to kick off the week positively, the discrepancy between employer goals and employee desires becomes evident. Over half (54%) of employers acknowledge that misaligned office days profoundly impact team productivity, creating challenges in maintaining cohesion and efficiency among teams.