Summer hours at work: 6 common types and how to implement them in your company

As the sun shines brighter and temperatures rise, many workplaces consider implementing summer hours at work. This typically involves a flexible summer work schedule with shorter work days or weeks.

It’s not just about investing in your employees’ health and improving their work satisfaction – a study by Opinion Research Corporation suggests that 66% of employees enjoying summer working hours also experience a surprising benefit: increased productivity. 

Another study by the 4 Day Week Global Foundation explored the effects of reducing the workweek to four days, similar to what a summer work schedule might look like. The participating businesses saw a positive impact on productivity, performance, and even revenue growth. 

If you’re ready to give summer flex hours a try in your company, you’ve come to the right place! This article will explore the types of summer working hours and how to introduce them at your workplace.

Sunshine and schedules: 6 types of summer working hours

So, it’s clear that summer hours at work aren’t only pleasant but also beneficial – for you and your team. But how do summer Fridays work? Are there other types of summer work schedules that may be more suited for your business? 

Let’s first look at some of the most common types of summer working hours offered by workplaces:

1. Summer Fridays

This popular option allows employees to leave work early on Fridays, typically in the afternoon. Some companies provide Fridays off once a month or every two weeks.

2. Compressed workweek

Employees work longer days from Monday to Thursday, allowing them to enjoy a full day off on Friday. This summer hours policy condenses the usual workload into a shorter time frame.

3. Remote work flexibility

Companies with remote work capabilities may offer increased flexibility to work from home during the summer months. This reduces commuting time and allows for a better work-life balance.

4. Flexible start and end times

Employees can choose their start and end times within a designated window, as long as their core working hours are met. This allows them to schedule personal appointments or errands around work.

5. Flex time with time banking

Employees can accrue extra hours worked throughout the week and “bank” them to use for shorter days or time off later.

6. Staggered schedules

Teams can implement rotating schedules where some employees work a shortened day while others maintain a regular schedule. This ensures core business hours are covered while still offering flexibility.

The specific type of summer flex hours offered will depend on the nature of the business, employee roles, and overall company culture. There may be too much work during the week to give Fridays completely off, so a remote work day or staggered schedules may be a better solution. Look for options that suit your business, and combine several summer flex modes, if necessary.

Making summer working hours shine: tips for successful implementation

For any summer working hours policy to succeed, you need to set some ground rules and ensure transparency for everyone. Make sure everybody knows that they’re still responsible for getting their work done on time. And set an example to encourage people to take advantage of summer hours.

To avoid getting burnt out by unclear summer flex options, make sure your new schedule checks the boxes below:

• Clearly define summer hours: Outline the specific dates and schedule changes and determine any potential exceptions. 
• Practice transparency: Communicate the program’s goals and expectations to all employees. Explain how workloads will be managed, and deadlines met with reduced hours.
• Implement time tracking: Consider starting a time tracking system (if you don’t have one already), focusing on results, not just hours worked. This can help employees stay accountable for their workload and demonstrate productivity during their scheduled hours.
• Embrace flexibility: Consider offering some flexibility within the schedule, allowing employees to personalize their workday and address personal needs, further boosting morale and productivity.
• Maintain communication channels: Open communication is crucial – encourage employees to discuss workload concerns and ensure managers are readily available to address them.

By following these tips, you can create a summer hours policy that fosters a productive and positive work environment, allowing your team to thrive even as the temperature rises.

DeskTime – your assistant for a dazzling summer hours policy

For summer Fridays at work or any other summer work schedule to be successful, it’s crucial to keep track of time and productivity metrics. As an automated time tracking tool, DeskTime helps to effectively manage workloads and provides insights into focused work periods and overall efficiency. 

As opposed to using a summer hours policy template, DeskTime offers automatic time tracking. This empowers both employers and employees to evaluate what summer work schedule suits them best, without having to worry about logging hours and counting time spent at work.

If you’re considering implementing a summer Fridays work schedule (or any other form of summer flex work), but you’re worried it may harm your team’s productivity or slow down your business results, first set a test period and measure the productivity results with DeskTime. Go for our free trial or explore our demo account with no strings attached.