“Work for the weekend” is a slang term used to describe people who focus on the weekend rather than work, and can indicate unhappiness or low-quality work. Studies show people are happier on weekends, but workplace changes can improve attitudes. Office workers may feel the need to work for the weekend, but talking to supervisors about new job responsibilities can help.
The slang term “work for the weekend” is used to mean that someone is going through the work week focusing on the weekend. Sometimes it means that someone is slowing down or completing low-quality work due to focusing on future enjoyable activities rather than work, and in other cases it is used to suggest that someone is unhappy at work. A number of studies have been conducted to learn more about attitudes towards work both inside and outside the workplace. Whether or not people work for the weekend, evidence suggests that people are happier on the weekend, even as they express satisfaction with their work.
This corporate jargon is commonly seen in reference to office workers, who tend to have tight schedules and may find their work less than glittering. Working for the weekend may be a common sentiment among people who think of their work as a necessity to earn money, with no additional rewards or pleasures. A person working this way can use the job to support recreational activities on weekends and holidays, literally working to pay for the weekend.
Employees who are satisfied or feel like their work has meaning tend to be happier and may even perform better in contrast to people who see their work as a means to an end. A person who works for the weekend may be unhappy or bored at work. Changing working conditions can shake up workplace attitudes and make people more interested and engaged in the workplace, reducing the sense of working for the weekend. Promotions, moves to different departments, and other workplace changes, such as instituting flexible hours, can make employees happier at work and less focused on the weekend.
Regular office work can be exhausting, especially when limited vacation time is available. On Fridays, people might feel like they’ve earned the weekend after the week’s ordeal, and the “thank God it’s Friday” sentiment resonates in offices large and small as employees exchange information about weekend plans and wrap up work. for the week so they can leave as soon as office hours end.
People who feel they have to work for the weekend may want to talk to their supervisors about new or different job responsibilities. People with valuable skills who aren’t put to work can feel especially frustrated and restless in the work environment and can start to feel like they’re working for the weekend.
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