Employee alert!

But after that it’s a downhill,with Fridays being the worst day,closely followed by Mondays,reports The Scotsman.

After the weekend,the research found,two-thirds of people feel over-tired,with workers spending at least half an hour making coffee,reading the paper and chatting with colleagues.

Cary Cooper,professor of organisational psychology and health at Lancaster University Management School,said: “People are not at their peak on Monday mornings. They are wound up and stressed,thinking of all the things they have to do. By Tuesday,people have got rid of a lot of their in-tray. People feel more relaxed,more patient and are likely to be more productive.”

He went on: “Fridays are the days when everyone dumps on everyone else.

“Britain has the longest working hours in Europe. We work really hard and really long hours,and then when the weekend comes,we really need it.”

Professor Cooper said: “Things are very different today because technology means people are available 24/7.

“What people really should do is relax and unwind at the weekend. But it is very difficult for employers to know what to do because we have let the genie out of the bottle.”

The survey was carried out for toothpaste manufacturer Arm and Hammer.

A company spokesman said: “The majority of Britons clock in with Monday morning blues at the beginning of the week,and the combination of a heavy weekend and a heavy workload mean it is difficult to focus on anything.

“But by Tuesday,workers are at their highest performance-wise – managing to shift the majority of their tasks,shine in meetings and impress clients with their efficiency.

“Unfortunately,things start to dip again by Wednesday as the enthusiasm wears off slightly and people begin to focus on the social events of the following weekend.”