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More than half (57%) of U.S. workers experience the Sunday Scaries - the anticipatory anxiety or dread felt about the workweek ahead - according to a new survey.
The FlexJobs’ Workplace Frustrations Report, which surveyed more than 2,100 respondents, found that nearly one in four (24%) experience these feelings every week. A further 15% reported experiencing them a few times a month, while 18% said they occur a few times a year.
Among workers who experience the Sunday Scaries, workload or unfinished tasks were the most frequently cited contributor (14%), followed by working with their manager (10%), work-life balance (9%) and coworkers or team dynamics (7%).
"The Sunday Scaries can be an important signal about how someone is experiencing their work," said Keith Spencer, career expert at FlexJobs. "When anxiety becomes a regular part of your weekend, it may be beneficial to look closer at what's causing it, whether that’s an unsustainable workload, a difficult manager, poor work-life balance, or another aspect of your workplace."
The report also explored broader workplace frustrations, including activities employees would prefer to avoid and the warning signs they look for when considering a new employer.
Team-building and camera-on expectations top frustrations
Some workplace traditions intended to encourage connection may not always be welcomed by employees, the survey found.
Organized team-building activities topped the list of traditions respondents secretly wished would disappear (26%), closely followed by camera-on expectations for virtual meetings (25%) and meeting icebreakers (21%).
Company happy hours were cited by 18%, while 17% wanted to do away with office small talk. Office birthday celebrations, social Slack or Teams channels, and company retreats or offsites were each selected by 14%. Holiday parties were cited by 9%.
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Respondents also reported taking steps to avoid participating in meetings and activities. Nearly one in five (19%) had skipped an optional meeting or activity altogether, while 18% had declined a social event without giving the real reason. The same proportion had stayed quiet in a meeting despite having something to contribute.
Another 15% had kept their camera off to feel less involved, 12% had said they had a scheduling conflict or another meeting, and 11% had stayed on mute to avoid being called on.
Some had intentionally joined late or left early (8%), or let someone else take the lead or speak for them (7%). Using another excuse to avoid participating, pretending to have internet or technical issues, and saying they had too much work to participate were each reported by 6%.
High turnover and negative reviews concern candidates
Workers are also looking for warning signs before accepting a job, with high employee turnover the most frequently cited red flag when researching a prospective employer (18%).
Negative employee reviews followed at 17%, while 12% identified frequent layoffs or financial instability. Poor communication during the hiring process and a lack of flexibility or remote work options were each cited by 10%.
"Because job anxiety is heightened for so many workers, many are doing their homework before they ever even apply to an opening," Spencer added.
"Signs like turnover or a lack of remote flexibility are considered some of the clearest indicators of how a company actually treats its people, and workers are paying close attention."
