Flexible Fridays Key to Summer Benefits
As temperatures heat up, professionals are looking forward to fun in the sun. Flexible schedules (41 per cent) and leaving work early on Fridays (28 per cent) are the most coveted summer benefits, according to 449 employees and 515 HR managers polled in a recent survey.
The study by OfficeTeam also shows employers may be warming up to these perks: Three out of four (75 per cent) human resources managers interviewed said their company offers flexible schedules during the summer, and more than six in 10 (63 per cent) noted that workers are allowed to leave early on Fridays.
Workers were asked, “Which of the following summer benefits would you most like to have?” Their responses:
| Flexible schedules | 41% |
| Leave early on Fridays | 28% |
| Activities such as a company picnic or potluck | 11% |
| More relaxed dress code | 5% |
| Other | 7% |
| Don’t know/no answer | 9% |
| 101%* | |
| *Responses do not total 100 percent due to rounding. | |
HR managers were asked, “Which, if any, of the following summer benefits are offered at your company?” Their responses*:
| Flexible schedules | 75% |
| Leave early on Fridays | 63% |
| More relaxed dress code | 57% |
| Activities such as a company picnic or potluck | 28% |
| None/nothing offered | 6% |
| Don’t know | 1% |
| *Multiple responses allowed. | |
“Workers appreciate having more control over their schedules as they juggle personal and professional obligations,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Organizations that don’t offer summer benefits in some form may be missing out on a way to increase employee morale and retention.”
“Businesses introducing flexible work arrangements should establish clear policies to ensure productivity isn’t negatively affected,” Hosking added. “It’s beneficial to stagger schedules and cross-train individuals so there’s always staff coverage. Conducting regular check-ins with team members who have alternate hours also helps keep projects on track.”
