As the days become brighter and the temperature warmer, employees look to make the most of the sunshine and get away from the workplace to enjoy some well-deserved rest and recuperation.
Whilst for some this could mean laying on a beach, or spending the warmer days hosting family BBQs, for others the summer months is a very different reality.
Whilst others dive headfirst into pools this summer, many staff are left drowning in an increased workload to keep business operations smooth sailing during the holiday period. The longer days and change of routine combined with added homelife responsibilities can send a lot of employees spiralling into a seasonal summer slump.
What is summer slump?
Whether it’s the result of longer and hotter days disrupting staff sleep schedules or the additional workplace and home responsibilities causing an increased amount of stress, the summer months can be quite overwhelming for a lot of employees, in particular the staff that are left to cover for employees that are on holiday.
But it’s not just staff with an increased workload that employers need to look out for; businesses also need to keep a closer eye on working parents. From managing meetings in between playdates or preparing lunch snacks in between prepping KPI presentations, the disruption to employee schedules hinders productivity and can leave staff struggling to keep pace with their workload, causing them to become burnt out.
Read more: Working mothers are being pushed to breaking point
Working parents also face the additional pressure of finding adequate childcare. In today’s cost-of-living crisis, financial pressure is an added burden that a lot of families will face and can be a big contributor to increased workplace stress. Add frontline staff or older workers who also suffer with underlying health issues that can be exacerbated by the heat into the mix and you have a perfect storm for seasonal burnout.
How to support employees through the warmer months
Providing the right benefit initiatives can go a long way in supporting employees through the summer months. For starters, a range of different benefit schemes can be deployed to support working parents, such as tax-free childcare to help working parents cut costs or connect employees to childcare facilities, taking the burden of finding those services off the shoulders of employees.
However, businesses would be wise to remember the staff demographic within their company when considering what benefits to deploy. Whilst working parents might benefit from extra cash when it comes to childcare, not every employee is a parent or has carer responsibilities.
Read more: How HR can spot signs of burnout
Some employees might value increased flexibility to meet friends after work or experience their first Glastonbury Festival. Other workers may appreciate the option to work from home where it is cooler and more comfortable.
Benefits should be tailored to the needs of employees working within the business. A great scheme that pleases all is one that offers staff the ability to work within flexible working hours such as ‘half-day Fridays’. Such schemes give workers the chance to finish early or start the day later if they have conflicting commitments. Additionally, encouraging staff to log off early and enjoy the warm weather now and again can do wonders for staff productivity, boosting serotonin levels and allowing staff to come back to work feeling rested and appreciated by their employer.
The power of appreciation
In today’s modern workplace the needs of staff are evolving, and employees expect to be seen and valued as people outside of their job title. Creating a continuous culture of appreciation by listening to employees throughout the summer months will go a long way in boosting staff morale and showing staff they are valued and supported as individuals.
A one-size-fits-all approach is not enough to keep staff motivated as workplace pressures start to build. To protect staff wellbeing and show employees they are cared for as people, listening to employee needs and supporting them accordingly is key to a happy and healthy workforce.
Nebel Crowhurst is chief appreciation officer at Reward Gateway
