Key takeaways
- Flexibility is one of the more accessible wellness tools available to employers. It gives employees room to handle the changes in their routines.
- Easy wellness programs to include in the summer are the ones built around healthy habits employees are already trying to keep up with.
- Summer is one of the best windows to use preventive benefits before the end-of-year rush hits.
It happens every year around the same time. PTO requests start stacking up, team meetings get reshuffled and the wellness program that had solid momentum in Q1 goes quiet. And before long, you’re heading into fall with a team that’s more burned out than rested.
It’s a pattern when routines lose structure. The good news? Because it’s predictable, you can plan for it.
Here’s what the summer slowdown can look like across a team:
- Team schedules become harder to sync
With people in and out throughout the summer, decisions slow down and projects fall out of rhythm. - Childcare and family responsibilities increase
School’s out and home schedules shift. So, your employees might be juggling more at home before the workday even begins. - Healthy habits and preventive care take a backseat
Summer has a way of making everything feel temporary. Even employees who aren’t on vacation get caught up in the season’s energy. And when that happens, it’s easier to say yes to fun over anything that requires effort or planning. - Heat and hydration affect focus and energy
The heat is no joke, especially in Arizona. Between fighting the sun during their commute and the higher risk of dehydration, that afternoon slump can hit earlier in the day.
Summer can ask more of your employees than it looks from the outside. And how you support them and their wellness can make a difference in how strong your team finishes the year.
Offer Flexibility Without Losing Momentum
Flexibility gives your employees room to handle the changes in their routines. It’s also one of the more accessible tools you have as an employer.
The key is setting expectations early so everyone knows what to plan around. A shared coverage calendar takes the guesswork out of who is handling what when someone is out. It also makes it easier for your team to take time off without feeling like they’re leaving a mess behind.
A short weekly priority check-in helps keep everyone on the same page when schedules are constantly shifting. It doesn’t have to mean adding another meeting to the calendar. Even carving out time for a quick update in the meetings you already have can help.
Summer Fridays, flexible lunch breaks or fewer meetings on the calendar are some other options that can take pressure off. Letting your employees skip the commute on days when the heat is at its worst can make a difference to their stress load too.
Did you know?
A recent HR industry survey found that 83% of employees say summer flexibility helps reduce burnout.
When employees have time to take care of themselves, they can show up as their best selves. And that’s what offering flexibility is really making room for.
Keep Wellness Simple and Seasonal
The programs that work best this time of year are the ones that fit the season instead of fighting it. These can be low-effort, low-cost and easy-to-join activities that keep participation alive when routines are stretched. Keeping wellness simple and seasonal means building activities around healthy habits employees are already trying to keep up with.
A few ideas you can work into your wellness program this summer:
- Hydration challenge
It’s a simple team challenge that makes it easier to stay on top of drinking water. It gives your employees a little motivation to follow through and bring coworkers together. - Adjust when and how you meet
Morning is when energy is highest and the heat is still manageable. Schedule heavier discussions and one-on-ones earlier in the day or take those conversations for a walk. Save the afternoons for lighter work and your team will feel a difference. - Step challenge
A friendly team competition that fits into the day without adding to it. Walking during a break, taking the stairs or parking further away all count. - Stretch or mindfulness breaks
The afternoon slump hits harder in the summer. A five-minute stretch, breathing exercise or just a reminder added to the calendar is enough to give your employees a chance to reset. - Healthy snack options
Fresh fruit, nuts or simple grab-and-go options (like these healthy fruit popsicles!) in the break room are an easy way to help keep energy up. - Team volunteer day
A few hours outside the office gets people out of their routines and into something bigger than the workday. It’s good for the community and it’s good for the team.
Employee Wellness Goes Beyond the Physical
The usual separation from home, social and work starts to blur in the summer. It’s easier for stress to follow employees between home and work when their kids no longer have a set schedule or dinner needs to be earlier because there’s a flight the next morning. Even the smallest schedule change can throw someone’s day and mood off.
And stress doesn’t always look obvious. Sometimes it shows up as lower energy or having a harder time staying focused throughout the day. When routines shift both inside and outside of work, mental energy runs out faster.
That’s why supporting employee wellness goes beyond physical health. It means making sure they have the space to take care of their mental health. As employers, you have a big role in setting the tone. So do real check-ins and create a culture where employees don’t have pressure to always be “on.”
When employees have room to recharge mentally as well as physically, they come back focused and ready to keep the year moving.
Use Summer to Re-Engage Employees with Their Preventive Benefits
Use the slowdown to your advantage and re-engage your employees with their preventive benefits. Summer is the perfect time for employees to schedule the dental cleaning, eye exam or annual checkup they haven’t had the time to fit in to their regular routine.
Preventive visits catch small issues before they become bigger ones. A dental cleaning can spot a growing cavity. An eye exam can flag changes in vision before they affect how your employees feel at work. Supporting your team through the summer can help them stay healthier, more focused and ready for a strong finish to the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
The summer slowdown at work is the natural dip in moment that happens when PTO, heat and changing routines all hit at once.
Employers can prevent employee burnout in the summer by getting ahead of it before the season starts. Flexible scheduling and quick check-ins give employees what they need to recharge through the summer.
Heat can affect employee health and productivity in ways that aren’t always obvious. Even routine exposure during a commute can lead to dehydration and fatigue that show up as trouble focusing or low energy well before the end of the workday.
The wellness activities that work best for teams in the summer are the ones that help maintain habits employees are already focused on. Hydration challenges, step challenges, morning meetings and stretch breaks are all great options.
Employee engagement drops in the summer typically due to more effort is needed to balance between PTO schedules, school being out and finding time to decompress. When routines shift both inside and outside of work, mental and physical energy run out faster.
A simple email or Slack message goes a long way. Let them know preventive visits like dental cleanings and eye exams are typically covered at no cost, and point them to their member portal to check their specific Delta Dental® and DeltaVision® coverage before they book.
