Summer Hours Make for Happy Employees

Memorial Day is Monday in the U.S., and with that holiday comes the commencement of good old summertime. When I first started working, the company I joined had summer hours — and I loved it. We worked nine hours for four days, and half days on Fridays. It’s not like we got out of there every Friday at noon, but the possibility was there.

I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that companies with summer hours have happier employees. It’s based on a sample size of one — me. If you’re in charge of work policy, why not try summer hours? You can buy a lot of good will for the sum total of zero dollars.

A Little Musical Interlude with a Player Piano

Posted on May 23, 2008 by Frank Roche
Filed Under Policies

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Bill at www.HumanMarkets.com/B 4 months ago 1 point
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As I write this, my PC clock says it's 1:24. obviously that is wrong. It should say 36 minutes to summer.

We are closing at 2 p.m. today. A colleague and I talked about it earlier as such a benefit. It makes everyone feel like a grown up. Trusted to get the work of the day and the week and the quarter done but also the work of summer.

Great post.

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HR Wench 4 months ago 1 point
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I honestly think 40 hours per week is too much. Of course, it depends where you work and what you do...

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Frank Roche 4 months ago 1 point
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HR Wench...I like the French 35-hours-per-week idea. But the reality in the consulting business like I'm in that 40 hours sounds like a luxury.

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Frank Roche 4 months ago 1 point
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Bill, that's a winner. When I took the 5:41 train home I felt like I was on a private train car. Each of us had our own seat. Nice that people go home...I like working hard, but the calibration is right, too.

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