Managing Productivity During the Summer

Community Manager — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 12:46:00 GMT

Memorial Day is in the rearview mirror, school vacation is almost upon us. With the "lazy, hazy, crazy" days of summer fast approaching, how best to maintain productivity during a season marked by holidays, vacations and distracting beach weather?

For starters, don't resist the time off. While it may seem counterintuitive, productivity is actually enhanced by taking a break. Roman poet Ovid famously said, "Take a rest; a field that is rested gives a bountiful crop."

Make a Plan and Hit the Road

Don't Forego Your Vacation This Summer!

The Upside of Downtime

Ovid's dictum holds true today. A 2009 study lead by Harvard Business School leadership professor Leslie Perlow confirms that getting away from work for set, preplanned periods of time can yield unexpected on-the-job benefits. The preparation required to successfully execute a shortened workweek produces tangible benefits which can include:

Better communication
Closer work relationships
Improved planning ahead
Streamlined work
Improved client service

Wall Street Journal reporter Sue Shellenbarger was inspired by the HBS study to put aside her own work for a set period each month and found her own productivity improving. Read her article If You Need to Work Better, Try Working Less for her first-hand account of increased productivity through planned respites.

Consider a Compressed Workweek

Looking for opportunities to let your field lie fallow? Explore the possibilities of working Summer Hours also commonly called a Compressed Workweek. Compressed schedules can be set up in a variety of ways, either 40 hours worked over 4 days, or a week of five nine-hour days followed by a week of four nine-hour days, giving employees a day off every other week. Some offices elect to give employees half day Fridays. Summer Hours typically are offered only between Memorial and Labor Days.

According to a study by Hewitt Associates, a leading HR consulting and outsourcing firm, the majority of firms who provide compressed workweeks during the summer find it successful in boosting employee retention, engagement and productivity.

While a flexible work schedule can provide plenty of upside-revitalized employees and improved workplace planning and communication- drawbacks to compressed workweeks exist and should be fully explored before embarking on any schedule changes.

Make Vacation Count

If a compressed work week isn't in the cards, recharge your batteries by making the most of your vacation days.

Alleviate pre-vacation stress by giving plenty of notice so schedules run smoothly and cross-train a colleague to sub in on your workload while you're out. Consider scheduling vacations after major projects and during slow periods so you can be confident your absence isn't burdensome.

And while you may need (or want) to check in, be sure to allow enough mental distance from work, that you can return recharged and ready.

Does your workplace have Summer Hours or policies to help manage productivity during the summer? Share your stories here and on the Beyond Folders Community's Facebook and Twitter pages.

by Carly Fadako

Are You Vacation Phobic?

Community Manager — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 13:05:00 GMT

How did you spend your summer vacation?

Millions of schoolchildren answer this question when they return to school in the Fall. But, as this NPR story relates, a lot of adult Americans would greet the same inquiry with a blank stare and deafening silence.

In the last decade or so, the American vacation has become an endangered species. According to BusinessWeek, over 50% of American workers fail to take all their annual vacation time. A sizeable 30% of us use fewer than half of our available days and 20% take only a few days off each year. Vacations are particularly scarce among the nation's small business owners, as noted in this denverpost.com article.

There seem to be multiple causes of the American vacation's demise. On average, we get eight paid vacation days per year. By sharp contrast, in many European countries, the government mandates that all employers offer at least 20 days of paid time off.

Beyond this relative deficit in days off, the recent recession has also dealt a blow to our ability - and willingness - to take vacations. As CNN.com reports, in addition to having less money to spend on vacations, we are afraid to take them because we do not want to risk losing our jobs. If you are like me, even when I do get away, I have a hard time leaving work behind. A daily traveler post brings this point home by quoting a research finding that "an estimated 83 percent of us check [our email] at least twice a day while on vacation."

If you are vacation phobic, there are steps you can take to get rest and relaxation and avoid burn out and stress-induced physical ills. Those grounded by travel expenses can take a staycation in your own communities to enjoy local activities and sites that you usually have no time to appreciate.

If leaving work is not an option, you might benefit from these workplace stress relievers. Sometimes, we can get away from it all just by gaining a bit of positive perspective from articles like this one on the Top 12 inspiring moments we saw at the Vancouver Olympics or this one featuring the fun and ultra-creative gummi bear chandelier.

by Bradley Eggers

Beyond Folders : workaholic, time management

Managing Productivity During the Summer

Are You Vacation Phobic?