How Small Business Owners Can Use Summer Hours to Improve Employee Morale and Prevent Burnout

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, small business owners may be considering implementing summer hours as a way to combat burnout among their employees. A recent report by the Society for Human Resource Management found that a significant percentage of U.S. employees feel burned out, emotionally drained, and used up at work. Small businesses, with their limited resources, may find it challenging to provide higher pay and benefits to boost morale, making summer hours a cost-effective perk to offer employees.

Before implementing reduced summer hours, small business owners should consider factors such as employee workload and deadline schedules. If offering the same hours off to all employees is not feasible, staggering time off or offering summer hours every other week could be alternatives. Once the decision is made to offer reduced summer hours, such as an early release on Fridays, it is important to document the policy with start and end dates and inform employees in advance.

After the initial season of summer hours, it is crucial to evaluate the effectiveness of the policy. Conducting a post-mortem review will help identify what aspects worked well and what areas may need adjustment. This feedback will be valuable in making any necessary changes to the policy for future summers. By carefully planning and evaluating the implementation of summer hours, small business owners can help improve morale and combat burnout among their employees.