How to communicate a summer Friday policy

After a long winter and a short spring, everyone wants to be outside enjoying the warm weather. And after a long two years, your employees could benefit from a little extra break for their mental health.

Enter the hallowed tradition of the summer Friday.

This idea can look a little different at every company, but the most classic concept is that from Memorial Day to Labor Day, workers knock off a few hours early on Friday. Some lucky souls might even get the whole day off on Fridays during the summer.

According to a survey from Gartner, 55% of companies offered some form of summer Friday in 2019, the most recent year for which data was available. Though this was pre-pandemic, many of the insights remain relevant: “Ultimately, Summer Fridays are about organizations providing the increased flexibility that employees are seeking,” Brian Kropp, group vice president of the HR practice at Gartner said of the results. “It’s a way for employers to show their staff that they are valued by giving them the gift of time.”