Taking Advantage Of Summer

Nancy Saperstone, Insight Performance HR Consultant

Spring is in the air and ballgames, barbeques, trips to the beach and the lazy, hazy daysof summer are on the horizon. Summer breezes by and employees yearn to be outside, rather than at work…Summer Hours can be a way for both the company and the employee to enjoy summer while maintaining employee productivity and increasing employee morale!  The economic downturn has forced many companies to reduce expenses and the level of employee benefits they provide. To offset the sting from cuts, an increasing number of companies are offering flexible work arrangements, such as Summer Hours, to enhance work/life balance, improve employee morale and increase employee retention.  A successful Summer Hours program is one that supports both the organizational goals and the needs of employees. Be creative as you consider the alternatives to the standard work week.  Can you arrange work schedules to allow for a condensed workweek? Have employees work a “4/40” (Four (4) ten (10) hour days), or a “9/80” (Work 80 hours over nine (9) days to get one day off every other week). Another option is to work a longer day during a busier period and then give half days (or full days) off on Fridays in the summer. For example, a company that experiences a busy sales cycle leading up to the holidays may work 9 hour days in November and December, but then offer Fridays off in the summer when sales are slower. Just be sure to do the math and be sure there is an equal number of hours exchanged between the two time periods.

The old adage, “work hard, play hard” will go a long way as you explore your Summer Hours options.

Nancy Saperstone is a Human Resource Consultant and Blogger for Insight Performance with over fifteen years of experience in Human Resources.

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