Employees Choose Flexible Schedules as Top Summer Perk

What do most employees want this summer?  Apparently, it’s flexible work schedules.

As temperatures heat up, professionals are looking forward to fun in the sun, a new OfficeTeam survey suggests. Flexible schedules (41 percent) and leaving work early on Fridays (28 percent) are the most coveted summer benefits, according to employees polled. The results mirror those from a similar survey of workers conducted in 2009.

The study also shows employers may be warming up to these perks: Three out of four (75 percent) human resources (HR) managers interviewed said their company offers flexible schedules during the summer, and more than six in 10 (63 percent) noted that workers are allowed to leave early on Fridays.

Workers were asked, “Which of the following summer benefits would you most like to have?” Their responses:

HR managers were asked, “Which, if any, of the following summer benefits are offered at your company?” Their responses*:

“Workers appreciate having more control over their schedules as they juggle personal and professional obligations,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Organizations that don’t offer summer benefits in some form may be missing out on a way to increase employee morale and retention.”

“Businesses introducing flexible work arrangements should establish clear policies to ensure productivity isn’t negatively affected,” Hosking added. “It’s beneficial to stagger schedules and cross-train individuals so there’s always staff coverage. Conducting regular check-ins with team members who have alternate hours also helps keep projects on track.”

For more information relative to summer in the workplace, check out the following infographic.