Monday Blues and the ‘Monday Effect’ have always perplexed employers. Recently, it was also proved that the effect is a scientific phenomenon instead of just a cultural one. With productivity, morale and motivation extremely low every Monday, companies struggle to maintain their performance. To overcome this ever growing issue, companies have been implementing innovative solutions to cure Monday Blues.
Methods To Defeat Monday Blues
1. Identify core issues in your organization: Recognise if the problems arising with Monday Blues are beyond the cultural norm. Various organizations are famous for their gruelling and inhumane work hours which directly lead to exhausted employees with low morale. This culture further saturates the Monday Blue effect. The Monday issue can be an insight into deeper issues that need to be addressed and fixed before short-term incentives. It is important to make sure that company policies and work culture are not contributing to the effect.
2. Shift morale booster activities to Mondays: Most companies have worked towards making Friday a ‘fun day’ with more informal activities such as Casual Fridays or Team Buffets. Incorporating these ideas on Mondays can be substantially beneficial since the start of the week can be easier for employees to adjust to after a weekend. With activities such as Happy Hours or team lunches, employees are encouraged to look forward to Mondays instead of dreading it and are more likely to accept the workload as well.
For example, a musical band within a technology services company decided to organise a 28-hour concert on the company campus. The concert started early morning on Sunday and ended on Monday afternoon with employees in an elevated mood. The company also celebrates Monday weekly by listening to the band’s music during lunch hour. The company has embedded a ‘Thank God It’s Monday,’ culture for over 650 Mondays. By implementing this Thank God It’s Monday (TGIM) programme, it has been able to attract a greater quality of employees to the company, while increasing employees’ happiness quotient and relations. Transforming Monday into a ‘Motivation Day’ or making it feel like a Friday should be a priority for employers looking to change their company culture.
3. Distribute small awards with weekend rewards: Creating special Monday contests with entertaining awards can act as incentives. With smaller and informal awards such as ‘Most Punctual’ or ‘Best Dressed’, employees can receive shots of morale boosters. Further, giving them small certificates or vouchers, which can be encashed during the weekend can act as a meaningful incentive and can get them excited for the rest of the week as well.
4. Allow employees to unplug during the weekend: A genuine break for the weekend might be overdue if severe Monday blues can be observed. Companies tend to assign a smaller size of work or tasks to employees even during vacations and breaks, this can further make employees feel fatigued and overworked. Avoid assigning work unless there is an emergency to allow employees to truly recharge and be refreshed on Monday.
Wanderlust Group went one step forward and decided to completely give Mondays off to employees. The CEO of Wanderlust Group decided to adopt a four-day workweek to tackle Monday Blues, especially with the pandemic-triggered increasing burnout and online work fatigue. The company was able to maintain efficiency, prioritize better and increase employee morale substantially. The CEO noted, “the quality of our meetings and discussions improved.” Six months after making the decision, Wanderlust Group recorded the strongest growth and productivity with profits up by 121% year over year.
5. Incorporate a culture of care: Encourage self-care within the organization. Employees tend to maintain a dissatisfied work-life balance and continue to engage in other forms of work even after official working hours. By fostering a culture of care and supporting employees, employers can observe a more motivated workforce. Scheduling yoga sessions or meditation within office hours or meditation, or having better therapeutic related healthcare coverage can be beneficial. This allows companies to have a better brand image with greater goodwill and allows employees to feel valued and motivated as well.
Conclusion
While dealing with an issue as persistent as the ‘Monday Effect’ can be daunting, it is critical to remember the smallest changes can make all the difference. By genuinely caring for employees, their well-being and maintaining a healthy environment, companies open themselves to a sea of opportunities and possibilities.
