As summer draws near, small business owners may be considering offering their employees summer hours in order to combat burnout. A recent study by the Society for Human Resource Management found that a significant number of U.S. employees feel overwhelmed and exhausted at work. Since small businesses often struggle to compete with larger companies when it comes to pay and benefits, summer hours can be an effective way to boost morale without breaking the bank.
Before making any changes, small business owners should carefully consider employee workloads and deadline schedules. If offering the same hours off to all employees is not feasible, staggered time off or alternating weeks with reduced hours may be a solution. Once a decision has been made, it’s important to clearly communicate the policy in writing, including start and end dates, to ensure everyone is on the same page.
After the initial season of summer hours, it’s beneficial for small business owners to conduct a post-mortem evaluation in order to assess what worked well and what didn’t. This feedback can help business owners make adjustments as needed to improve the policy for future summers. By carefully planning and communicating summer hours to employees, small businesses can provide a valuable perk that can contribute to a more positive work environment.
