Buzz, buzz. You reluctantly turn off your alarm clock and look at your phone. It’s Monday. You let out a sigh. The weekend has finally come to an end. A sense of dread washes over you as you think about all the work that needs to get done. When you get to work everyone seems a bit ruder, a bit grumpier. You don’t take time to realize that you too are a bit ruder, a bit grumpier. Instead, you focus on all the snarky and unkind remarks coming from your fellow colleagues. You begin to feel unsatisfied with your job and let your mind wonder off. All of a sudden, you are thinking about other jobs. These other jobs are better than the one you’re at now. At this other job, you are happy and those around you are happier too. Fast forward a couple of days and it is Friday. You wake up ready to start the day. When you get to work your coworkers seem nicer, and you are satisfied with your job. For a second, you wonder why at the start of your week you hated your job, but now you love it again. That second flashes and now you are smiling because your coworker said a funny joke and you just submitted your final project for the week.
So, what was going on? You were experiencing the Monday Blues. A recent study conducted in the U.S. found that employees experienced less job satisfaction in the beginning of the week and more job satisfaction towards the end of the week (Pindek, 1460). The study also found that people were more likely to perceive incivility (impolite behavior) from others at the beginning of the week, rather than the end of the week (1460). In addition, the researchers discovered that perceived incivility had a negative effect on job satisfaction only earlier in the workweek (1460). Lastly, employees perceived more job constraints at the start of the workweek, than towards the end (1460). Researchers in this study believe that it is possible that employees are more satisfied at the end of the week because goals have been accomplished, whereas as the beginning of the week goals are set, but not complete (1461-1462). The researchers also suggest that employees are able to “better handle or even ignore the stressor (e.g., ignore uncivil behavior), knowing their exposure to the stressor is about to end for the week” (1467). However, on Monday the stressors employees “encounter have the potential to linger over the following days,” which in return may cause employees to “appraise the stressors as more severe and experience less job satisfaction in response” (1462).
An older study conducted in Australia found similar results. The study showed that “the number of participants experiencing incivility decreased throughout the study, peaking on Monday, when 43% of the participants reported some form of incivility (Nicholson & Griffin, 6). On Friday 19% of participants experienced incivility (6). Overall, there was a significant decrease each day in terms of incivility experienced (7). The researchers found that “On average, the likelihood of experiencing incivility decreased by 0.78 each day…” (7). This study also measured vigor and found that employees felt more vigor as the week progressed.
Both studies, found that people perceived heightened levels of incivility at the beginning of the week. This can mean three things. 1. On Mondays people have clouded judgement because they are in a bad mood, and therefore perceive hostility when it is not there (Nicholson & Griffin, 4). 2. People are being hostile on Mondays because they are in a bad mood (Nicholson & Griffin, 4). 3. Perhaps people perceive AND experience more hostility on Mondays. Personally, I believe it’s probably the third option. In any case, incivility is being felt on a weekly basis, particularly on Monday.
According to the second study, past research has shown that “incivility is associated negative consequences for targets including decreased retention, productivity, engagement, job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and lower self-rated health” (2). Also, don’t forget that the first study found a connection between incivility and job satisfaction at the beginning of the week (Pindek, 1460). On Mondays individuals were found to feel less job satisfaction, and perceived incivility was found to decrease job satisfaction even further (1460).
So why do you hate your job on Mondays? The answer: you probably have a common case of the Monday Blues. Although it is common, it doesn’t mean it is right. It’s not “just” the Monday Blues, as in not serious or not important because it happens often and to a lot of people. Rather, it is important to understand and combat the Monday Blues for this very reason. If you hate your job on Mondays, but love it on Fridays analyze what it is that might be contributing to this. Do you experience more hostility on Mondays? If so, is it actual hostility? Or is your judgment clouded by negative feelings associated with having to come back to work?
A lot of people aren’t happy they have to go back to work on Mondays, even if they like their job. If you find that people seem a little snappier on Monday, realize it’s not you. That colleague probably had a hectic morning trying to prepare for the new workweek. Also, you might not be the sweetest person on Monday, either. With that being said, take a look at your own actions and try your best to be bit nicer on Mondays. Be kinder to yourself as well. Write yourself a note- one that will make you happy, and look at it when you are feeling blue. Also, if you are certain that someone is being uncivil towards you, and you know it’s not from clouded judgment, then feel free to correct that person. You can be understanding and kind, while also being a firm self-advocate.
Lastly, you can love your job, and still be a little grumpy that you have to go back to work on Monday. Although you may feel the Monday Blues, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should quit your job. What it does mean is that there is room for improvement. Overall, it’s important to mitigate the negative effects that occur at the beginning of the workweek. You don’t want the Monday Blues to control your work-life, so take action and try your best to make your Mondays merry.
Works Cited:
Pindek, Shani, et al. “Workdays are not created equal: Job satisfaction and job stressors across the workweek.” 2021.
Nicholson, Tahnee, and Barbara Griffin. “Thank goodness it’s Friday: weekly pattern of workplace incivility.” 2016.