Posts Tagged ‘summer’

Help Your Workforce Escape the Dog Days of Summer with 9 Tips

Tuesday, July 3rd, 2012

Early July brings blistering hot temperatures to areas all over the country. Often referred to as the Dog Days of Summer, this seasonal heat wave creates a less than ideal work environment for employees who work in the sun, buildings with no air conditioning or any other environment that can get very hot.  Finding relief from the extreme summer temperatures is necessary to maintain productivity and eliminate any chance of heat exhaustion for your employees.

When your workdays reach a high of 90 degrees or above, try the tips below to keep your workforce cool and productive:

  • Educate your staff on the importance of staying hydrated and taking breaks to refresh and cool off.
  • Make sure your staff is aware of the signs of heat-related illnesses, such as confusion, dizziness, muscle cramps and nausea.
  • If they primarily work outside, encourage your employees to wear sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher.
  • Implement flexible schedules or summertime hours, like starting the day earlier to avoid some of the hot weather.
  • Provide your staff members with a cold treat—freeze pops and ice cream are two options.
  • Keep the water cooler full or the workplace fridge stocked with bottled water, and recommend to your employees to drink at least eight cups of water per day.
  • Buy employees moisture-wicking shirts, cooling headbands and reusable insulated water bottles to stay cool.
  • Put multiple fans in areas that aren’t air conditioned to circulate cool air.
  • If within company safety policy and dress code, allow team members to wear lightweight, light-colored and loose-fitting clothing.

CAI members provided many of the tips above through CAI’s list serve, a member benefit that enables participants to ask peers at member companies for advice, recommendations and best practices for their organizations. Recent topics members have discussed on the list serve include employee service awards, I-9 auditing procedures, workplace fraternization and many more. For additional information about a CAI membership and signing up for the list serve, please contact an account manager at 919-878-9222 or 336-667-7746.

Workplace Insights will take a break on Thursday, July 5. A new post will be up Tuesday, July 10. Please enjoy the July 4th holiday!

Photo Source: Stewart Black

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,     Posted in Human Resources Management     comment No Comments »

4 Tips to Beat Summeritis and Keep Your Employees Productive

Thursday, June 21st, 2012

Summeritis is a common term heard among high school and college students when the warm weather season is quickly approaching. Symptoms of this seasonal disease include excessive daydreaming about trips to the beach or pool, a decreased ability in retaining information, sluggish performance and producing poor quality work. Yesterday marked the first day of summer, and you may have noticed some symptoms of summeritis floating around your workplace. While summer months tend to be slower for companies because of vacations from your staffers and clients, maintaining high productivity is still achievable. Prevent the symptoms of Summeritis in your staff by utilizing these four tips:

Plan for Vacation

With school out and an increase in nice weather, summer months are the ideal time for employees to go on vacation. Research shows that Americans are notorious for not using all of their vacation. While a strong work ethic is admirable, taking a vacation allows you to rest, recharge and come back to the office full of energy to be productive. Make sure you and your employees plan a solid vacation with family or friends.

Utilize Flexibility

Many companies are offering their workers flexibility during the hottest time of year. Some companies allow their staff to leave early on Fridays to enjoy the weather and spend quality time with people who aren’t their coworkers. Like the effects of a summer vacation, employees return to the office on Monday feeling refreshed and ready to perform again. If this set up isn’t feasible for your company, try a variation. Have employees come in earlier or work through their lunch break to leave the office sooner.

Delegate When Needed

Don’t let important tasks go unfinished because fewer people are around the office. Before an employee leaves for vacation, meet up with her to go over tasks that she is currently working on and ask her if she needs assistance while she’s away. Using strong teamwork during the summer months ensures that deliverables are met.

Have Some Fun

Keeping your workers productive during this time of year is important, but don’t ignore the fact that this is one of the most fun times of the year. Celebrate the season and all of the accomplishments your team has made throughout the first half of the year with an office party or celebratory lunch. Recognizing their efforts and letting them have some workplace fun will keep their morale high and performance stellar.

For more tips to keep you and your employees productive during the summertime, please call a member of CAI’s Advice and Counsel Team at 919-878-9222 or 336-668-7746.

Photo Source: turbulentflow

, , , , , , , , , , ,     Posted in Human Resources Management     comment No Comments »