6 Simple Strategies to Improve Employee Engagement this Summer

Summer is just around the corner, and it's time to start thinking about how to keep your employees engaged and motivated during the warmer months. Happy and engaged employees get more stuff done, not to mention they feel more at home while at work. Through increased employee engagement, staff members will feel more motivated, focused and productive with these easy ideas you can implement. Here are six strategies for companies to increase employee engagement during the summer:

Strategy 1: Allow more flexible working hours

When the sun is shining, no one wants to be stuck inside the office working. By implementing the option for flexible working hours, you can give your employees the freedom to do both. One thing that companies have been working on to improve employee engagement is by offering Summer Fridays, where employees get all or some of the Fridays off during the summer months. Alternatively, you could offer employees to work four 10 hour days instead. Or if you would like your staff to keep working, give them the option to work at home or somewhere else. By providing this release for your coworkers, you can increase overall engagement.

Strategy 2: Encourage taking time off

Along those lines, another way to keep your employees engaged is to let them take vacation and time off to fully disconnect and decompress. Whether they will use this time to travel or not, the time they can take for themselves will benefit your company and most importantly, your staff, in the long run. While it might seem counterintuitive to improve engagement by letting people take time off of work, it will be clear why this is a great option once everyone comes back with a fresh perspective. Plan ahead and let your employees, staff, team or even volunteers know everyone’s calendar to ensure vacations can be spread out so as to not affect workloads.

Strategy 3: Implement daily team lunches

The thought of hosting daily team events might seem daunting, but it wouldn’t have to be. One of the great things about working in an office is bouncing ideas off each other in the moment. However, an underlooked aspect of office life is eating lunch together. A great way to keep employees engaged is by engaging with them in the break room. Everyone can bring their own lunches in a company branded lunch box or they can order take out. It is a great way to bond with your team and help people feel engaged while working.

Strategy 4: Use swag items as incentives for reaching goals

Another way to improve employee engagement is by using the promotional items as incentives for reaching certain goals or milestones. For example, you could offer high-end swag to employees who meet their sales quota for the month, or other various employee gifts to those who complete a specific training program. These incentives might seem small, but when you use branded company swag as an incentive, not only will your employees be more engagened, but they will feel appreciated by their employer. This increased appreciation and confidence will give them the boost they need to achieve their goals.

Strategy 5: Throw a company-wide picnic or party

If you are specifically looking for a morale boost, a great way to help improve your employee engagement is to make it a fun event for your employees. You could host a company BBQ or beach party and hand out the items as party favors. There are many ways you can come up with freebies to hand out to everyone so they have something to take home. Or you could set up a photo booth with your branded swag items as props. When employees see that you're putting effort into creating a fun and engaging experience for them, they'll be more likely to feel valued and appreciated. Plus, this is a great way to show your employees how much you appreciate them and all their hard work.

Strategy 6: Ditch the dress code

Summer can be brutal, especially if you're stuck in an office with a strict dress code. All those layers and formal attire can turn your workplace into a mini-sauna. By loosening up the dress code, you're allowing your employees to dress appropriately for the weather. Lightweight fabrics, shorts, and breathable attire can help them stay cool and comfortable throughout the day, which ultimately leads to happier and more motivated employees. Another benefit is more creativity. When people are given the freedom to express themselves through their clothing choices, it can actually spark creative thinking and new ideas. Allowing employees to wear unique and individual styles encourages them to bring their whole selves to work. It creates an environment where diversity and personal expression are celebrated, leading to a more vibrant and innovative workplace culture. In case you don’t want to fully ditch the dress code, consider ordering some updated corporate swag to meet somewhere in the middle.

In conclusion, incorporating summer swag items into your employee engagement strategy is a great way to keep your employees motivated and engaged during the summer months. By choosing practical items, imprinting them with your unique branding, using them as incentives, hosting giveaways, and making the distribution a fun event, you can improve employee engagement and foster a sense of community within your company. So, get creative, beat the heat and start planning your summer swag strategy today!