Worker productivity peaks on Tuesday: survey

Anyone who works a Monday-to-Friday workweek knows that Wednesday is often referred to as “hump day.”

It’s the mountain that sits in the middle of the week. After hump day, the weekend gets closer and it’s a downhill slide to Friday -- the least productive day in terms of workplace productivity, according to a new survey from human resources firm Accountemps.

It says worker productivity peaks on Tuesday, which is the day employees are expending the most energy climbing the face of that workplace mountain.

Among human resources managers surveyed, 33 per cent said Tuesday was the most productive day of the week. Another 23 per cent cited Wednesday as the most generative, followed by Monday at 14 per cent. Thursday and Friday wear basically write-offs for productivity, at 5 per cent and 6 per cent respectively.

Eighteen per cent of HR professions said no particular day was productive, which could be a good or bad sign depending on whether they thought their employees were slackers or superstars every single day of the week.

The survey results make sense when you consider how a Monday-to-Friday workweek often unfolds, says Greg Scileppi, president of international staffing operations at Robert Half, which is connected with Accountemps.

"Monday is often spent on tying up loose ends from the week before and planning for the upcoming week or at team status meetings," he says.

"By Tuesday, we've started to make a dent in the week's to-do list and have the time to focus on individual tasks, resulting in more productivity.”

He says the struggle for most employees, and in turn their employers, is keeping the Tuesday momentum going, especially on Thursday and Friday.

On the flip side, employers could use the information to ensure that they pile on more work or schedule crucial meetings on the more productive days.

Tuesday has long been cited as the most productive day of the week, says Accountemps. It cites a survey it did back in 2007 showing 53 per cent of executives saw Tuesday as the most productive workday, followed by Monday and Wednesday at 18 and 19 per cent, respectively. Back then, the work ethic on Thursday and Friday was dismal at less than 3 per cent.

Of course, that was before the 2008-09 recession kicked in and people were more confident about their jobs.

Accountemps has a few tips to increase workplace productivity. However, you might wish to wait until you have more energy early next week to read further.

Axe the excess
Ah yes, the old “to-do list.” Accountemps says make the list then prioritize what needs to get done first. But be realistic about what you can get done in the time available. “Shorter, more realistic lists that leaves room for unexpected projects and setbacks will help you become more productive,” it says. That’s of course if you have the energy to make the list in the first place.

Aim for quality, not quantity
Easier said than done in today’s workplace, where bosses are asking employees to do more with less. Still, Accountemps says while multitasking seems like a good way to increase productivity, “it often leads to oversights and errors.” Their advice: Stick to one project at a time, where possible.

Know your prime time. No, we’re not talking the time of day when your favourite shows are on TV (or how productive you are power-watching Netflix programming). Accountemps recommends using the time of day when you’re most productive to handle more difficult chores at the office. “Handle less-pressing tasks, like online research, when your energy level starts to wane.” That’s before you’ve had that fourth cup of coffee for the day.

Dodge derails. Turn off social media and mobile devices, Accountemps says. That’s practical advice, unless of course you work in one of the hundreds of jobs out there when both are part of your workload. If you do have the luxury of turning off your phone for a few hours while working on a project – go for it. Just make sure your boss isn’t calling.