Tuesday is consistently found to be the most productive day of the week for employees according to multiple surveys of HR managers and executives over several decades. Employees are generally least productive between 4-6pm and the week before a major holiday. Taking vacations can boost productivity as employees tend to be more productive after a vacation when returning well-rested and recharged.

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© 2016 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. AT-0216
Productivity:
Is Timing Everything?
Productivity Facts Every Employee Should Know

2. © 2016 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. AT-0216
On which day of the week are
employees generally most productive?
TUESDAYS
I
If you need to work on a big project, save it for a Tuesday.
*
39%
14%
17%
24%
3%
Monday Tuesday
Wednesday
Friday
No particular
day
3%
Thursday
Tuesday Packs the Biggest Productivity Punch
* 2013 Accountemps survey of more than 300 human resources managers at U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.
accountemps.com

3. © 2016 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. AT-0216
Tuesday Packs the Biggest Productivity Punch
Hard to focus on the
task at hand?
It must be Friday, when
employees are least
productive.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday No Particular
Day
%ofRespondents
2013
2007
2002
1998
1987
Tuesday consistently takes top honors
for most productive day of the week:
*
**
**
**
**
* 2013 Accountemps survey of more than 300 human resources managers at U.S. companies with 20 or more employees.
** Accountemps survey of 150 executives from the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.
accountemps.com

4. © 2016 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. AT-0216
Don’t Schedule That 4 p.m. Meeting!
Most employees
have mentally
checked out from
4p.m. to 6p.m.
Try focusing on critical
tasks in the morning
for optimum productivity.
In general, what is the least productive
time of day for employees?
8 a.m. - 10 a.m.
10 a.m. - noon
Noon - 2 p.m.
2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
No particular time
10%
4%
19%
28%
2%
37%
***
*** 2010 Accountemps survey of more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.
accountemps.com

5. © 2016 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. AT-0216
Need a Reason to Take a Vacation?
With their batteries and brains recharged, employees
are generally more productive after a vacation.
Don’t let your mind wander too much before a holiday.
34%
Are employees more
productive before or
after a vacation? ****
31%
14%
After a
vacation
Before a
vacation
No
difference
Don’t know4%
51%
of executives say worker
productivity takes a hit the week
before a major holiday. ***
*** 2010 Accountemps survey of more than 1,000 senior managers at companies with 20 or more employees.
**** 2004 Accountemps survey of 150 executives from the nation’s 1,000 largest companies.
accountemps.com

6. © 2016 Accountemps. A Robert Half Company. An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/Disability/Veterans. AT-0216
The Productivity Power Play
following a vacation is the most
productive time and day for employees.
10 a.m. - noon
Tuesday
on a
Accountemps, the world’s first and largest specialized staffing service for
temporary accounting, finance and bookkeeping professionals, has been tracking
workplace productivity trends for decades.
Tuesday
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