As return-to-office (RTO) mandates continue to grow across corporate America, professionals are reporting rising levels of stress, burnout, and job dissatisfaction. But one form of workplace anxiety stands out: the “Sunday Scaries”.
From checking emails at 9 pm to struggling to fall asleep, this creeping Sunday dread is becoming an unavoidable reality for many workers, and for some, enough to walk away from a job altogether.
To better understand how Sunday anxiety is affecting the American workforce, we surveyed 1,000 employees across the U.S. The findings reveal just how common this issue is, who it’s impacting the most, and how it’s influencing mental health and career decisions.
What we analyzed
For this study, we surveyed 1,000 American employees about their experience with Sunday anxiety: how often they feel it, what triggers it, and whether it’s influenced their mental health or career choices. Responses were broken down by age, gender, and job seniority level to reveal deeper trends and demographic differences.
What we discovered
- 1 in 7 U.S. professionals experience Sunday anxiety every single week
- Over a third (36.6%) have considered quitting a job because of it, and 11.7% already have
- Gen Z professionals are the most likely to quit their job over Sunday Scaries
- Men are more likely to experience anxiety over work, but women are more likely to accept it as a “normal” part of work
- Entry-level workers are the most vulnerable to Sunday stress
The creeping dread of Sunday night
Over one-third (31.2%) of American professionals say they experience anxiety on some Sundays, and nearly 13% report feeling it every Sunday. For some, the stress starts long before Sunday evening, as 7% say the anxiety kicks in as early as Saturday.
The top causes for anxiety before the working week were found to be:
- Workload and deadlines (33.1%)
- Burnout and exhaustion (23.6%)
- Unrealistic expectation (15.7%)
The emotional toll is clear. More than one in three professionals have considered quitting their job due to Sunday anxiety, and 11.7% have already. Meanwhile, over two-fifths (42.2%) say their job negatively affects their mental health, and more than one in six (15.5%) describe that impact as significant.
Despite this, many still accept Sunday stress as unavoidable. A third of professionals (34.2%) believe this anxiety is just part of working life, regardless of their role or employer.
Men are affected by Sunday Scaries more than women
Men are slightly more likely to report Sunday anxiety than women (14.6% vs. 11%), and more likely to experience it on Sunday evenings (35.3% vs. 30.7%).
But while women report fewer symptoms, they’re more likely to normalize it. Over two-fifths (40.4%) of women say Sunday anxiety is just part of working life, in comparison to 28.7% of men.
In terms of root causes, women are more likely to attribute their anxiety to burnout and exhaustion, while men cite upcoming meetings more often. However, workload and deadlines top the list for both genders.
When it comes to career decisions, men are slightly more likely to leave a role due to Sunday Scaries (12.5% vs. 10.8%), but both genders are affected.
Gen Z is leading a shift in workplace expectations
Gen Z workers are at the forefront of changing attitudes toward mental health and job satisfaction. Compared to older generations, they are more open about their struggles and more willing to take action.
- Nearly 1 in 5 Gen Z professionals (18.4%) experience Sunday anxiety every week
- 45.9% have considered quitting their job due to Sunday stress
- 1 in 5 (20.2%) already have
Younger professionals were also found to feel the stress sooner. As many as 15.6% say the anxiety kicks in as soon as the weekend starts. This compares to just 7% of Gen X and 2% of Boomers.
Gen Z is also more likely to report that their job negatively impacts their mental health with 71.6% saying their job has at least a somewhat negative effect on their well-being. In comparison to 44.6% of Millennials, 37.8% of Gen X, and just 27.3% of Boomers
Perhaps most tellingly, fewer Gen Z workers accept workplace anxiety as “normal”, as just 34.2% believe stress is a given part of working life, compared to nearly half (48.5%) of Boomers.
Entry-level workers are at the most risk
Entry-level professions are the most vulnerable to Sunday anxiety, with nearly one in five (19.6%) saying that they feel it every Sunday. As many as 12.5% report that the stress begins as early as Saturday. Therefore, making it understandable that almost one in five (18.8%) of entry-level workers say that their job has a significant negative impact on their mental health.
Here’s what’s driving the stress by career level:
- Entry-level: Burnout (25.9%), poor management (20.5%), workload (22.3%)
- Mid-level: Workload (27.8%), burnout (26.5%), unrealistic expectations (17.2%)
- Senior-level: Workload (41.6%), burnout (23.9%), upcoming meetings (18.1%)
Despite their stress, 37.5% of entry-level workers have stayed in a job they wanted to quit because of Sunday anxiety, just slightly higher than senior professionals (38.1%) and mid-level employees (35.1%).
What it all means
The data reveals a shifting mindset across the American workforce: stress and anxiety are no longer being dismissed as just “part of the job,” especially by younger and entry-level workers.
As RTO policies increase and the boundaries between work and home blur, employees are paying closer attention to how work impacts their mental health, and they’re not afraid to take action. For those looking for a fresh start, having a polished resume will help you stand out from the crowd.
For employers, it’s a clear signal: if businesses want to retain top talent, mental wellbeing can’t be a checkbox; it has to be part of the culture. Flexible schedules, mental health support, and clear workload boundaries aren’t just “nice to have” anymore; they’re expectations.
Methodology
Online survey of 1,000 full-time U.S. office workers aged 18+, conducted in July 2025. Respondents represented diverse demographics across age, gender, location, and career stage. Stratified sampling and post-stratification weighting were used to ensure a balanced, representative sample.
Data recorded: July 2025