Let’s face it, we all love it when the sun comes out, it’s exciting and changes our mood. So how do we make summer work for us as employers? Here are some top tips!

1. Encourage your team to lunch in the park and enjoy the sunshine – they’ll come back from lunch more rejuvenated and productive!

1. “It’s too hot in this office” – seriously, are you struggling to work in the heat? Buy some fans, employees will thank you for it and after all, the last thing you want to deal with is heat stroke! That really is unproductive!

1. Everyone loves ice-lollies and a cold can of coke – go do the rounds! Your popularity as a manager will rocket and next time you ask them to do some overtime, they’ll be more willing!

1. “Can I wear my bikini top to work? It’s so hot!” No, it’s still work and skimpy clothes are really not going to help concentration in the office, let alone set a good impression to clients! This is a great time to send an email to staff outlining what the dress code is during hot weather (particularly if you haven’t adopted Tips 2 and 3!).

1. Make use of everyone’s good mood – it’s a great time to hold 1-2-1’s and team meetings; you can even hold them outside in the sunshine!

1. Short notice holiday requests – be mindful that you may have a sudden influx of holiday requests when BBC Weather announces next week’s heat wave (no promises) – consider letting 5 employees take a day off each rather than letting 1 employee have a whole week off. Before you say yes, check that there are still enough people in work to do the work and to prevent those in work from having to work harder during the heat wave!

1. Increased sickies? Yes, there’s always 1 maybe 2! Everyone wants to be at home when the sun is shining, however, not everyone can! So, if you find that some employees have a habit of calling in sick on the hottest day of the year, keep an eye on it (watch out for Facebook posts of them lying on the beach while ‘off sick’!) and deal with it – if you don’t do anything about it, it’s not fair on those loyal employees turning up to work!

1. Office summer parties – skimpy clothes, excitement in the air and glasses of Pimms flowing! Whilst encouraging employees to have fun and enjoy time out of the office with colleagues and perhaps clients, do set the parameters for staff! Things to include, heavy petting in the corner is not acceptable, posting a picture on Facebook of staff antics is not acceptable, harassing the girl in the shortest skirt is not acceptable but having a good time is!

1. If you’re a manager, set the tone and leave on time (even let the office finish early on a Friday!) – you know everyone around you is waiting for you to take the lead so that they can get home to light their BBQ and open a cold beer!
2. Enjoy the summer and get to know your colleagues! We Brits love talking about the weather; after all we spend enough time moaning about the rain!

Happy holidays from hr@ViewHR.co.uk– www.viewHR.co.uk