5 Summer Tips for Small Businesses

Good Vibes and Sunshine!

Ahhh, summer… School is out, the pool is open, and ice cream is on the menu. If only we were still kids and could kick our feet up and float away the summer days poolside. Instead, unless you’re a teacher, chances are, your days are spent just like the rest of the year… working. For small businesses, summertime usually means lessened productivity, a spike in scheduling requests, loose dress code interpretations, and extreme weather conditions. So how do you maintain a safe and productive work environment in the midst of summer madness? Here are a 5 Summer Tips for Small Businesses to consider:

1. Manage Time Off Requests

Most people take their vacations over the summer months while the kids are out of school and the weather is inviting.  For a small business, it can be challenging to manage the increase in requests for time off and still maintain productivity.  Encourage employees to plan as far in advance as possible so that planning around each person’s time off can be appropriately accommodated.  It’s important to make sure that employees have the time and space to fully disconnect during their vacations.

2. Offer Summer Fridays, Flex Time, and/or Remote Work Opportunities

If your small business has been considering the 4-day work week trend, the summer months might be a good time to give it a try and offer Summer Fridays.  That is when employees take a full or partial day off each Friday through the summer months, particularly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.  By giving employees a few extra hours in the summer months, it’s showing that their work/life balance is important, and this can be seen as a huge perk when trying to attract and retain top talent.  If you’re an onsite or even a hybrid workforce, if the positions and workload allow, consider offering even more flexibility with their remote workdays and offsite time.

3. Weather the Weather Responsibly

If you have a partial or fully outdoor workforce, paying attention to heat advisories, sun exposure, and summer storm warnings is especially vital. All companies have a responsibility to protect employees from health risks and dangers of extreme weather, but this also gives you the opportunity to express how much the company cares about employees. Consider altering schedules so that employees are not outdoors during the hottest parts of the day. Supply plenty of drinking water and think about providing sunscreen in the breakroom or on the job site. Talk to employees or provide them with information about heat-related health problems and reiterate your understanding and compassion in any instances of overheating or heat-related symptoms. It is important that employees feel comfortable asking for extended breaks (within reason) or extra time to recover from the extreme conditions. 

4. Celebrate the Season

Summer is a time for baseball, celebrations, and picnics, so what better time to plan a company gathering or outing? Summer is the best time to reward employees with afternoon ice cream parties or off-site events such as team picnics, or a company-wide outing to the ballpark. These are great team-building activities and a great way to encourage camaraderie and boost employee engagement.

5. Implement a Summertime Wellness Program

It can be difficult for employees to stay cooped up in their office during summer so this is a great time to implement a wellness program in which you can integrate outdoor summer activities. Encourage employees to exercise more by organizing company participation in a local competition, such as a 5K, or instituting a fitness challenge. Shake things up by taking staff meetings outdoors or having picnic meetings in the office courtyard. Hold “walking” meetings that allow people to either walk together or take calls via phone so they can be moving.