Feeling lonely at work today?

If you're reading Houstonist at the office today, we salute you: We're sure as heck not at work, having already tapped into our supply of Sam Adams and historic documents in preparation for tomorrow. And according to the AP, we're not alone: A lot of Americans are taking today off, officially or not.

The problem, of course, is that July 4 falls on Tuesday this year. Though that technically means today isn't a holiday, it's kinda like the day before Spring Break — everyone has their minds on other things, so not much gets done. Some employers figured that out and gave their workers the day off, but others expect business as usual, and they might be disappointed.

A smart boss would have planned in advance and given as many workers as possible a day at the beach, according to Brendan Bannister, a business professor at Northeastern University. He said days like Monday are a chance for supervisors to give up a little productivity in return for a little good will. The day off means less burnout and can "engender feelings of loyalty and commitment," he said.

We couldn't agree more. And if you're worried that the July 3 productivity slump will give the Chinese the edge they need to achieve world domination, don't worry: Experts say it shouldn't have an effect on the economy, and employers shouldn't worry that workers will make a habit of "lazy Mondays." We know you're relieved.