Summer Hours Make for Happy Employees
Posted on Friday, May 23, 2008 by Frank RocheMemorial 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
Bill at www.HumanMarkets.com/Blog
May 23rd, 2008
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.
HR Wench
May 23rd, 2008
I honestly think 40 hours per week is too much. Of course, it depends where you work and what you do…
Frank Roche
May 26th, 2008
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.
Frank Roche
May 26th, 2008
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.
Luxury Blog
Nov 19th, 2008
seriously, it depends where you work and what you do
Ben E.
Mar 3rd, 2009
I worked with some of my fellow employees to push this option last year when gas prices were so high. We support the gov’t, and they already were getting Friday off every other week, so it wasn’t like it would be out of line.
They flatly refused the proposal. No explanation, no nothing, just a loud, “NO!”
Frank Roche
Mar 4th, 2009
Ben, gas prices or no gas prices, it’s a great idea to give some flexibility. Your idea was doubly great…save money and give some motivation. Sorry to hear it didn’t work out…but it should have.
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Apr 7th, 2009
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