Take on Your Biggest Workload on Tuesday

Interviews with more than 300 HR managers at U.S. companies with 20 or more employees, conducted for Accountemps, found 39% of respondents chose Tuesday as the most productive work day for employees. Monday ranked second, with 24% of HR managers selecting it as employees’ most productive day.

Fourteen percent of respondents indicated Wednesday was the most productive day, and another 14% said no particular day was more productive than any other. Thursday and Friday tied for last, each only receiving 3% of votes. An additional 3% of HR managers said they do not know which day is the most productive for employees.

The survey also found 10:00 a.m. to noon is the most productive time of the day, with only 4% of HR managers reporting it is the least productive time of day for employees. Thirty-seven percent of respondents selected 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. as the least productive time of day.

More than half (51%) of HR managers indicated employees are more productive after a vacation, while 31% said they are before a vacation, and 14% said there is no difference.

More than one-third (34%) of respondents said productivity takes a hit the week before a major holiday.

Add all this up and it suggests 10:00 to noon on a Tuesday following a vacation, but not the week before a holiday is the summit of Mt. Everest for employee productivity.