Incentive ideas: Shorter Fridays lift productivity
June 22, 2009 by Bill MeltzerPosted in: Incentives, Latest News & Views, Management
Nowadays most companies need to squeeze out every possible productive hour from their employees.
Even so, it may be worthwhile to encourage supervisors to send employees home a little early on Fridays. Studies suggest that this incentive can boost productivity the rest of the week.
What’s more, it’s a benefit that employees covet, especially this time of year. A recent OfficeTeam poll of 457 workers age 18 and older found employees would most prefer these summertime job perks:
- flexible schedules (38%)
- leaving early on Fridays (32%)
- special activities, such as a company picnic (6%), and
- relaxed dress code during the summer (5%).
Tags: benefits, company culture, Incentives
June 25th, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Woudl you provide a listing of the studies mentioned in your statement: Studies suggest that this incentive can boost productivity the rest of the week.
Thank you
June 25th, 2009 at 4:23 pm
On June first most of our employees started working an extra 45 minutes (some in morning, some in afternoon–their choice) on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and they go home at 1 p.m. on Friday. A few people chose not to participate for various reasons and that has worked out well. It has had a very positive impact on morale and productivity.
June 30th, 2009 at 10:46 am
We liked “summer hours” so much we made it year round in 2000. We put in the extra hour each day Monday – Thursday and leave at noon on Friday. We have a rotating schedule that has 3 of the 15 office support stay to 4:30 each Friday so we can handle the clients needs if they should call… but it would seam they are out by noon also as our phones are dead!
I encourage people to make their DDS and Doctor appointments on the Fridays they leave early and this has dramatically cut down on employees leaving early for these type appointments.