by Gene Eggman

Our firm works with some companies who have figured it out. Providing longer weekend options to their employees during the summer months when the days are longer and nights are shorter can provide more work/life balance.

What are “summer work hours” these companies provide their employees? Typically they start after the Memorial Day weekend and continue to Labor Day weekend. Companies modify their Monday through Thursday work days by an hour, and close down the work week by noon on Friday. But get this - some don’t modify their Monday through Thursday work schedules - they just give their employees that extra time each year!

No matter what part of the country you live in or what season of your career you find yourself in, having a longer weekend with your friends and loved ones is of great benefit in working towards work/life balance.

What if you don’t currently have summer work hours? What can you do? Besides seeking out a new employer that provides this option - which we as recruiters can help in your search - you might want to consider how you use your time. Recently one team leader put it this way, “You have to integrate margins in your professional and personal life to create life balance. To prevent burnout you have to be creative sometimes in scheduling your time - organizing your work and team, and also with your family and self time.”

Whether you work with a company that provides summer work hours or not, it is how you create or schedule life margins with work, family and self that ensures work/life balance.