Workers admit to ‘summer slacking’ as end of year approaches

As the weather grows warmer, it’s hard not to kick the feet up pre-emptively while still having work obligations.

A recent Dayforce survey has revealed that employees are eager to get into a bit of summer relaxation and may even be starting early. According to the survey, 45 per cent of employees said they are less productive during the summer months, with four in 10 (39 per cent) admitting to even slacking off when their boss is on summer holiday.

As organisations push their employees to finish the year off strong, certain incentives can be deployed to keep workers in line and engaged with their work. A number of organisations have already implemented these strategies, with six in 10 (60 per cent) employees reporting that their employer has some form of summer flexibility in place.

Dayforce reported some of these summer flexibility options being:

• Flexible work hours/schedules (35 per cent).

• Increased work-from-home options (26 per cent).

• Seasonal work-from-anywhere options (21 per cent).

• Summer Fridays (19 per cent).

These policies have been very well received by workers, with 76 per cent saying they value their flexibility far more in the summer than in other periods throughout the year.

Despite this gleefulness towards these policies, most employees (88 per cent) noted that they often can’t take advantage of them. Employees cited workload (38 per cent), perception (28 per cent), and uncertainty (21 per cent) as the key reasons.

For other employees, summer flexibility is sometimes looked upon with disappointment, with some claiming these flex strategies can add stress. Thirty-four per cent claimed they found it harder to get work done as their co-workers were less available, while 28 per cent felt frustrated as they would like to take advantage of the summer flex policies but are too busy.

Although the traditional holiday period that many have been accustomed to is the summer period, a large number of Aussie workers are foregoing the long typical summer holiday and instead taking a week off here and there.

According to the report, more than six in 10 (61 per cent) claimed they tend to take a few days on either side of the festive public holidays and Australia Day as they prefer to get away in winter instead for a longer break.

Pair this with the cost-of-living challenges that so many Aussies workers are facing, and the traditional summer holiday begins to lose its appeal. The report showed that 26 per cent of full-time workers may not be able to afford to take holidays at all this summer.

Kace O'Neill

Kace O'Neill is a Graduate Journalist for HR Leader. Kace studied Media Communications and Maori studies at the University of Otago, he has a passion for sports and storytelling.