‘Blue Monday’ might be nonsense but it still makes an important point about employee satisfaction

At MyWorkpapers, we value rigour, data and evidence-based thinking, so let’s be clear from the outset: the original notion of ‘Blue Monday’ is pseudoscientific nonsense.

The idea that the third Monday in January is the most depressing day of the year is based on a spurious equation conjured up in 2005 as a PR stunt for a travel firm looking to sell summer holidays on a (probably) cold and rainy day when most people are back at work.

Nevertheless, the idea of ‘Blue Monday’ has repeatedly gained traction in the media over the last 17 years, suggesting that it touches on something significant despite its dodgy origins.

It seems likely that widespread dissatisfaction with working life is the culprit behind the idea’s emotional currency.

This is a problem for employers in any sector but especially so for those, such as accountancy, where skilled staff are in high demand and there is tough competition between firms for the best talent.

With many people now working from home full-time once again following the imposition of ‘Plan B’ restrictions, making your practice somewhere people actually want to work might look more difficult than ever.

But it doesn’t have to be that way and there are a few steps you can take now to put you in a better position to recruit and retain top talent.

• Deal with low-level stressors – Repeated low-level stresses can in some ways be more difficult than one off events, which at least have the benefit of being finite. Low-level stressors such as things not working properly or being unreliable simply raise the levels of people’s baseline stress and potentially make them less able to deal with problems.
• Cut out unnecessary tasks – Skilled workers like working on the tasks they are skilled in and are likely to be frustrated if they find themselves carrying out repetitive administrative tasks. Automating and delegating processes can make a big difference to a person’s job satisfaction.
• Be clear about expectations – Most people are clear about what their jobs are in general terms. But what specifically should they be doing from moment-to-moment? When that isn’t clear it can lead to the stress of working on the wrong thing or to anxiety-induced paralysis about what to work on next.

These are issues that can be addressed by having the latest cloud-based tech solutions in place, including MyWorkpapers.

MyWorkpapers lets skilled workers focus on what they want to be doing, taking away the tasks that can inject unnecessary stress into the working day.

At the same time, having the latest tech in place sends an important message to current and prospective employees about the direction of your practice.

Implementing MyWorkpapers is a great way of stopping the Monday morning return to work being painful for your team.

Speak to us today to find out how we can help make your practice a better place to work.