5 Ways to Stop Your Employees Dreading Monday Mornings
Benchmarkrecruit Employer Advice, advice-centre
No one likes getting out of bed on a Monday morning, but if you are stressed and unhappy at work the early morning alarm can sound like your absolute worst enemy. For many people however it isn't necessarily the work that gets them down, its the overall stress levels that can accumulate as a result of day to day work.
The good news is, healthy staff are generally happy staff, which means that by keeping employees physically and mentally healthy they will naturally become happier, more motivated and as a result, more productive.
Here we take a look at some top tips to help achieve the ultimate management goal, the 'All Round Happy Ship'.
1. Get hands on
2. Encourage Exercise

Setting up a corporate gym membership with a gym near to the workplace can be a great plus for employees, for the following reasons:
- Corporate packages can be seen as a 'perk' for employees, especially as they are generally considerably cheaper than private memberships
- Exercise promotes staff interaction, e.g. if several employees attend the same lunchtime exercise class.
- An invigorating lunchtime workout helps avoid the mid afternoon slump.
- Calming effect and enhanced clarity of thought.
- Increased flexibility reduces the chance of employees developing problems from prolonged time sitting at a computer
- Time efficient as sessions can often be held in unused offices or meeting rooms
3. Heads up to Wellbeing
Investing in employees' emotional wellbeing is an essential way of maintaining a happy ship. Utilising the skills of qualified stress counsellors and mindfulness experts can help provide a valuable sounding board for employees, which will help balance the equilibrium within the workplace, nip problems in the bud, an ultimately keep stress levels down.
It's good to talk
Many companies find that regular counselling sessions (with an external company) can be incredibly beneficial for their staff, especially in large organisations where individuals sometimes don't feel heard. Counselling can make a big difference in the following areas:
- Inter office politics can be addressed with minimal fuss.
- Impartial intervention means that employees feel more comfortable discussing their issues.
- If offers a forum for personal issues to be discussed and ultimately prevent them from entering the workplace.
- One-to-one counselling allows employees to feel 'heard', especially in larger organisations
- Niggles that may feel too trivial to report can be easily addressed
- Employees rust the 'four walls' security that an outside body will bring, and ultimately address issues that may otherwise be left to fester.
- Mindfulness techniques barely eat into company time, most sessions only last between 10-15 minutes
- Individuals can practice mindfulness at their own desks, at convenient times, removing the need for any organisations
- Mindfulness programmes are readily available as apps, many being inexpensive or free
"As well as the physical benefits, having massages at work help on an emotional level too. Firstly it is a great tool for relieving stress allowing you to have a 'time out' from the working environment. 15 minutes of peace and relaxation that allows you to breathe, gather your thoughts and prepare to go back to work refreshed and much more productive. Many of our clients have also reported feeling more valued by their employer when a massage service is made available for them. It makes a huge difference to morale and motivation whilst promoting a greater sense of general wellbeing."
4. There is No I in Team
Team sports and group activitites are opular in many organisations, with inter-company football, netball and volley ball tournaments springing up all over the place. The pros of these sporting events are far reaching, with benefits going beyond the health and fitness benefits:
- They are inclusive of everyone, sports or not. Even those who don't personally want to compete can still get involved on support the social side.
- There is no better way to encourage team building than having a team who compete together
- Charity runs are great for encouraging employees of all different abilties to join in and work for a united cause
- The after even socialising unites the team and supporters
- Activities don'thave to be sport specific, craft, music and combined interests create opportuntiies for employees to unite and let off steam together.
5. You Are What You Eat
It is a well-known fact that what you eat can directly affect mood, energy levels and ultimately performance. So much so, that a poll carried out amongst 420 office workers in the UK highlighted that, as a direct result of the 'post lunch lull' 2:55pm is the single most unproductive time of the day.
