To celebrate the release of our latest eBook, ‘Recharging your workforce’, we look at the 10 reasons why it’s important for HR Heroes and Benefit Managers to consider launching wellbeing benefits during the summer and autumn months.
The sun is out (well, as much as it can be for a British summer), spirits are high and employees are switching thoughts between beach holidays, family BBQs and relaxation.
According to our latest eBook, workplace productivity can drop by up to 20% during summer months. 45% of employees also say that they’re more distracted, leading to decreased focus, motivation and productivity.
Changes in routines, pace, personal demands and work environments play a quiet but powerful role in shaping how employees show up at work during this time.
Summer offers moments of renewal and rest with longer days, holidays and outdoor socialisation. However, it can also create stress, burnout and disruption as employees juggle heavy workloads, childcare, and the pressure to make the most of every sunny moment.
So, if ever there was a perfect time to consider the addition of wellbeing benefits, it’s now.
We’re not talking about free biscuits in the break room, or yoga classes every Tuesday. Summer is the time to show your employees that you actually care.
Below, we list 10 key reasons why businesses should consider wellbeing benefits this summer.
Launching a wellbeing benefit in the summer is like showing up to a meeting with snacks. It’s unexpected, appreciated and can immediately put a smile on the face of others.
It helps to set a precedent that wellbeing isn’t just a one-off initiative, but an important part of your culture. A precedent that you want employees to look after their health, wealth and self.
Picture your HR Heroes as builders. They can lay the groundwork for a culture that values balance, mental health, and proactive care, rather than introducing it during particular awareness weeks.
And don’t forget, when Autumn rolls in, bringing with it a flurry of deadlines and meetings (not to mention preparing for the Christmas period and potential leave further down the line), your team will already be in a better head space.
So, plant the seeds in the summer and ‘benefit’ later in the year.
And no, we’re not talking about BBQs.
Summer is like the Ctrl+Alt+Delete of the working year. It’s the perfect time to help employees mentally reboot, reflect, and recharge—before the last quarter comes in like a tornado.
Between projects deadlines, heat waves and holiday envy, summer can be a key time for mental burnout. A summer wellbeing benefit or benefits being introduced can give employees an opportunity to rest, recharge and rediscover the most important three words in any job – work-life balance.
The elder sibling of our last reason. We all need a little oomph once in a while.
Nothing brings a smile to the face more than welcoming in the summer months, waving goodbye to a typical British spring that is typically wetter than an otter’s pocket.
Warmer weather can turn even the grumpiest morning person into a semi-functioning optimist. With sunshine and serotonin on your side, the introduction of wellbeing benefits during this time can help increase employee engagement and participation.
‘I’m walking on sunshine, woahhhh, and don’t it feel good!’
With the sun shining brightly (well most of the time), wellbeing benefits show your team that you’re not just forecasting KPIs – you’re prioritising your people. Add a little vitamin D to your employee benefit proposition and culture.
It’s also a great sign for potential hires that you prioritise balance, health and happiness.
No, we’re not talking about the band!
And with apologies to Dolly Parton, the days of the stereotypical 9-5 working hours are long gone. So why not shake things up a little?
Think meditation breaks, summer steps challenges and outdoor reading groups. How about Flex Fridays?
A new wellbeing benefit or benefits can be a breath of fresh air for employees.
According to our eBook, each year, employees have on average 43.6 ‘ineffective’ days due to poor health.
This equates to a £138.3 billion loss to the UK economy each year.
When it comes to the summer, heat exhaustion, stress and the previously mentioned burnout can spike. Proactive wellbeing benefits help reduce sick days and can keep team spirits at an all-time high.
Winter is coming (who doesn’t love Game of Thrones), so it’s best that employees make the most of the outdoors while they can!
There’s an endless list of outdoor activities that don’t work before in Spring, but July is the perfect time to activate your summer self. Summer wellbeing benefits help employees ride the wave of seasonal motivation.
Your employees might be taking a break during the summer, but their financial demands won’t.
Summer can be an expensive time of year, especially for working parents. The cost of childcare, holiday camps and more can make it a tough time of year for some.
The introduction of wellbeing benefits during the summer, in this case financial, can help provide financial coaching and budgeting advice for those that need it most.
From Devon to Dundee and everywhere in between, most companies that offer flexible employee benefits will have an annual enrolment window.
Introducing wellbeing perks during the summer can be the perfect way to interact employees with their benefits platform outside of their typical selection period.
Equipping managers and team leaders with a healthy work-life balance model throughout the summer makes the transition into the autumn months much easier. This can include anything from always taking a lunch break to hosting wellbeing activities and catch ups.
To download our full eBook, click here.