When the summer months roll around, there’s greater temptation to get up from that desk and out of the office – Seasonal distractions affect almost all of us. As a result, managers need to establish clear rules and guidelines, but also get more creative with their employee engagement initiatives.

As an employer – here are a couple ways you can keep your team motivated, and avoid the summertime productivity slump: 

Get outdoors

With the help of modern technology, its now easier than ever to stay connected and productive outdoors. Hold your meetings outside – There are tons of proven advantages of doing this: better communication, heightened relaxation, fewer 

interruptions – and the best: a dose of fresh air.

At Fuse, a Marketing agency in Burlington, employees can enjoy summer with

communal bikes that are parked in the company's warehouse, either on the weekend or for a quick ride at lunchtime.

Offer flex hours

More companies than ever before are seeing the light when it comes to flex time. Not surprising when you consider that employees name it the most influential workplace perk. Particularly in the summer, employees with families (esp. with young kids) might feel the strain of work-life balance.

Flex time can come in many forms! You can let employees leave early on Fridays, or consider letting them work one day from home if technology allows it. Remember to always clearly document new policies and make sure they are understood when implementing. 

Have a clear vacation policy

During the summer months, fatigue and frustration can really set in if overlapping vacations within departments are planned poorly, and your team might feel overwhelmed if this happens.

Ensure that it’s clearly communicated if your employees have to submit their vacation request a certain time in advance, if vacation days can be rolled over from the previous calendar year, and any other details that are relevant to your organization.

Making sure this is all done adequately ahead of time can help you ensure you have the proper coverage during the vacation heavy (summer) months!

Don’t forget to encourage your team to actually utilize their time off. Studies consistently show that employees who use their time off are more productive, and more likely to stay in their jobs long-term.

Looking for other methods to keep your team on track? Check out our free Performance Measurement & Management Guidebook: