Aussie boss introduces ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’

An Adelaide boss has defended her decision to introduce a radical new movement into the workplace, despite claims it is “lazy” and “entitled”.

The new workplace trend is gaining popularity on social media.

A boss has defended her decision to introduce a radical new movement into her workplace, despite claims it is simply a “lazy” and “entitled” Gen Z trend.

‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ is a movement that promotes a “gentle start” to the working week by easing the usual pressures and expectations that arise after the weekend.

While it can look different for each team, it usually entails staff working from home on Mondays, while doing the least amount of work required for their role.

Adelaide marketing manager Caitlin Winter recently made waves on social media after speaking about her experience incorporating this new practise into her team.

The 31-year-old told news.com.au that for her, it was a way for staff to take their day at their own pace and to treat themselves with “space and kindness” to set up for a productive week.

Caitlin has talked about her decision on TikTok. Picture: Instagram / @caitlinjwinter

“A lot of people think it means I sit in my PJs all day in front of the TV and do no work,” she laughed.

“But in reality, it is simply a day where we work from home, don’t schedule in any meetings and generally just treat ourselves with a little more space and kindness to set up for a productive week ahead.

“For us, it means not putting pressure on ourselves to get those big projects done.

“Other things that we might get to do on these days are loads of washing we didn’t get to on the weekend, grocery shopping, planning dinners for the week or walking your dog.
“For one member of my team, it means being able to drop off and pick up her kids from school which she is unable to do during the week.”

Rise of new workplace trends

There is no denying that the pandemic has changed the way many people work forever.

Gone are the days where staff are expected to be in the office all day, every day, watching the clock from their swivel chairs until it hits home time.

Caitlin first heard about the trend after reading an article about it. Picture: Instagram / @caitlinjwinter

Many companies around the world have embraced flexible modes of working, including ‘work from home’ days and the freedom to choose their own hours.

These changes have been praised by staff, and are said to help improve productivity and mental health by helping to achieve an optimal work-life balance.

However, with the days of isolating at home largely behind us, there have been calls by some in higher power for things to revert to how they were before Covid.

Some bosses have even forced staff to come back to the office full-time, sparking fierce backlash from those who have adapted to flexible working.

Radical new workplace trends are on the rise, including the four day work week and “quiet quitting”.

Now we’re seeing ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’ sweeping the nation, inciting varied reactions from those who have embraced it, while others have slammed it as “lazy” and “entitled”

Have you embraced a new working trend? Continue the conversation: [e-mail]

Despite this, Caitlin says it has been nothing but a positive change.

She explained that she often uses this time to help her achieve more goals and get to tasks she may not otherwise have time for during the rest of the week,

“On Mondays, I carve out time for myself to get to some personal and professional development,” she said.

“These are things like articles that have been on the reading list for weeks, email newsletters that go unread in my inbox and trainings that require me to block out significant amounts of time.

“And of course, if there are urgent matters I need to get to, those will get done too. I don’t just push all ‘work’ to Tuesday.”

The end of the “Sunday scaries”

Caitlin said she first came across the idea after reading an inspiring article on the topic.

For most of her life, she says she has experienced anxiety on Sunday evenings in anticipation for the big week ahead and the expectations that are placed on her for Monday morning.

Caitlin encourages all managers to consider the concept if they are able to do so. Picture: Instagram / @caitlinjwinter

“While reading the article, I really resonated with what Marisa Jo, the creator of the concept, was talking about,” she said.

“I thought the idea was fantastic. I actually remember sending the story to a colleague in my team at the time and saying ‘how cool is this?’

“After I sat with it for a while I realised that now, as a manager, I had the ability to make those kinds of changes within my team and try to make our working lives more comfortable.

“For a while now I’ve had an internal battle between the millennial who worked like mad at the beginning of her career to ‘prove herself’ as a hard worker and reconciling with the fact that even though that is what I went through, it doesn’t mean that is the way things should work.

“Of course, it depends on what industry you work in and what position you hold. But I think that it just seems crazy that we expect everyone to be able to work efficiently in the exact same way.

“You might be more productive in the mornings, then by afternoon you’re mentally drained.

“What would be the use of sitting at your desk for another 2 hours to reach 5pm if you’re not being productive?

“As long as the work gets done and you’re being effective at your job, why should it matter at what time of day that is?”

Benefits of having a “Bare Minimum Monday”

So far, the benefits that Caitlin has noticed in her small team have been impressive, with overall happiness and productivity improving.

She always used to have anxiety on Sunday evenings. Picture: Instagram / @caitlinjwinter

She says Bare Minimum Mondays have had a major positive effect on her team. Picture: Instagram / @caitlinjwinter

“My team and I seem happier and more efficient when we’re given ‘permission’ to work when it is good for us and when we’re most productive, she said.

“Our team are all very capable and have a great level of pride for the work we produce, so the benefits of Bare Minimum Mondays is that we feel supported in our roles and we have space to work in a way that fits around our lives.

“Giving ourselves a quieter start to the week means that the days when we’re in the office together feel more energetic and productive.”

Caitlin has also noticed the positive effect Bare Minimum Mondays has had in her life and encourages all managers to consider incorporating this philosophy as part of their routine,” she said.

“I no longer get anxious on Sundays thinking about how much I need to prepare for the week.

“This means that I can do a Monday morning gym session which I had stopped doing because that was just ‘one more thing’ I would have to prepare for on a Sunday.

“It also gives me a calm way to set up my week to be the most productive it can be.

The movement has been blasted as "lazy" and "entitled" by some. Picture: Instagram / @caitlinjwinter

“Sometimes when you’re bombarded with meetings and task requests it can start to feel overwhelming and things slip through the cracks.

“Taking the time to set myself up properly for the week is vital for me.

“As a Manager, I like knowing that my team feels more supported and trusted. For someone who has struggled with anxiety most of my working life, being able to make this change for others when given the opportunity is really important.

“My advice would be to really sit back and think about what tools you have at your disposal to help support the people that work with you to help.

“What areas of their work life could be improved? And if you’re sitting there thinking, well I couldn’t do that because they would all ‘slack off’ and no one would get their work done, it could be an indication of a larger, cultural issue within the company.

“For these things to work you have to have a strong relationship with your employees based on trust and clear communication.”

Originally published as Aussie boss introduces ‘Bare Minimum Mondays’