A glance at the calendar will tell you that summer is almost upon us. For some people, that means a slower pace with longer days, kids out of school, and thoughts set toward vacations and weekends spent at the beach or lounging by the pool. For others, it’s a different kind of usual, trading school drop-off for camp drop-off or preparing for summertime barbeques and other seasonal gatherings.
Your employees probably fall into one of these categories or, more realistically, a little bit of both. So it can be easy for them to become sidetracked by the changes and different routines that summer often brings. Yet, with some creativity, you can help your personnel stay engaged and focused on their job while still enjoying the fun of summer. Here are 5 tips to help:
1. Implement Flexible Scheduling
Explore ways your organization can offer adjusted work hours to boost morale while maintaining productivity. Some options include:
- Summer Fridays when employees can leave work early on Fridays or take alternating Fridays off
- Summer Hours when employees can finish their workday earlier to make extra time for afterwork activities
- Giving employees a bonus summer day off that isn’t deducted from their PTO
- Offering remote work opportunities to reduce commute time and increase time for summer activities
2. Create a Summer Culture in Your Workplace
Bring the levity of summer into your business by organizing some fun activities or seasonal perks, such as:
- Summer outings like a company cookout or attending a sporting event
- Company wellness programs and challenges
- Conducting meetings outside or offsite
- Sponsoring a volunteer workday
- Ice cream Wednesdays
- Virtual coffee breaks or happy hours
3. Encourage Professional Growth
Just because school is out doesn’t mean the learning has to stop! Offer your employees opportunities to invest in their personal development with chances to upskill, reskill, and cross-train. Consider providing opportunities to attend group or individual training sessions, workshops, seminars, or classes — either in person or online. Summer book clubs or reading challenges can also give employees avenues to learn something new or hone their expertise.
4. Inspire Productivity through Gamification
Set up challenges for employees to meet team or individual job goals to keep them focused and motivated. Institute a leaderboard to recognize top performers in each department. Offer rewards such as gift cards, extra time off, or a paid lunch to the winners. Remember the wellness and reading challenges mentioned earlier? Give those winners rewards and prizes too.
5. Prioritize Employee Well-Being
Pew Research Center reports that 62% of American workers say having paid time off is extremely important. However, 46% of employees say they take less time off than their employer offers. Some reasons they give are fears about falling behind at work, feeling badly that colleagues would have to take on additional work during their absence, concerns about hurting their chances for advancement, and the risk of losing their job.
Proactively and vocally encourage employees to use their time off to help them rest and recharge. Also, remind them to take breaks throughout the workday. Maintain open lines of communication so employees can talk to someone if they feel overwhelmed by work assignments or ask for assistance when needed.
Some other ideas for promoting employee well-being are integrating lunchtime walks and potluck luncheons focusing on healthy food options. And don’t stop emphasizing employee wellness after summer is over; make this a company practice all year long.
Though summer is often a season of relaxation with the ease of moving at a slower pace, it can also be a time for renewed energy and inspiration within your organization. With thoughtful initiatives and the right strategies for your company, your employees can enjoy the fun and frivolity of summer while staying engaged, motivated, and productive.
Want to know other ways Omnia can help you develop and maintain an engaged workforce? Contact our team of experts today to discover how to use the power of behavioral insight to unlock your employees’ potential!
