3 Tips to Increase Employee Engagement Over the Summertime

August 10, 2017

More hours of daylight, seasonal sales slumps, and heat-induced midday drowsiness – how are managers supposed to keep employees interested and productive over the long summer months? Companies across all industries experience seasonal lulls in business, often accompanied by less-than-enthusiastic employees. Pay special attention to your staff during the summer months to keep up the pace while preventing burnout. Here are three tips to beat the heat:

Give Your Employees a Break

That’s right – cutting your staff some slack can actually boost summertime productivity. Don’t expect your employees to keep up the same pace they had the rest of the year. If you’re one of many companies with sales slowdowns in the summer, you can afford to give your employees a well-deserved break. Allow your employees to take vacations, short days, and other perks to spend time with their families and enjoy true time off from work. When they return, they’ll feel refreshed, invigorated, and ready to get back to productivity.

Focus on Company Culture

Summer is the perfect time to improve your workplace environment and focus on company culture. Take your staff out for a middle-of-the-year party or gathering as a thank you for their hard work during the busy season. Spend time surveying your staff and finding out what you can do to improve workplace culture. Schedule gym breaks and communicate with employees regularly. Talk with them one-on-one and in group sessions to get a feel for how everyone is doing. Walk around the office, strike up conversations, and do things to optimize employee satisfaction. Happy employees are more productive than dissatisfied ones.

Offer Enticing Incentives

Keep pressure off your sales team by offering fun incentives and rewards during the summer months. Instead of setting typical sales goals, set an office goal and have your staff work together to achieve it. Reward met goals with prizes like a trip to the nearest water park or an extra paid day off work. Show your employees how much you appreciate their efforts despite a lull in business by offering rewards they really want. Varying up your incentive system during the summer can keep the mood light while still encouraging hard work.

Employee engagement is critical to the success of your business. Keep summertime morale high in the office with these tips!