Tips for Preventing Employee Burnout as the Summer Season Ends

The lazy, hazy days of summer can become grueling and stressful in late August and September as the vacation season ends, the craziness of back to school begins, and people realize the hectic holiday season is just a few short months away. It’s a lot! And that can lead to a lack of motivation and burnout on the job.

Fortunately, business owners can help their team members regain and maintain momentum. Yes, it requires a little effort. But speaking from personal experience, I will tell you it can make a big difference.

Simple ways to keep your employees engaged and motivated

1. Take time to ask them how they're doing

I’ve discovered that the simple act of showing you care can help boost morale when team members are overwhelmed by high call volumes, multiple project commitments, tight deadlines, or unforeseen roadblocks. Besides demonstrating that you value individuals on a personal level, checking in to gauge their state of mind can also reveal potential systems and process weaknesses. Address these to streamline your operations and reduce employees’ workloads.

2. Provide flexible working hours if possible

This can help employees with children or aging parents juggle the competing demands of work and home responsibilities. A flexible work schedule gives team members more freedom to fulfill family obligations while staying engaged and productive at work.

Naturally, some positions are better suited to flex schedules than others, but usually, there’s a way to make it work if you and your employees collaborate and exercise some creativity. Think outside the box—for example, rather than only considering a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. or noon to 9 p.m. schedule as a replacement for the standard workday, perhaps a split shift (e.g., 8 a.m. to noon and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.) will serve as a mutually beneficial alternative.

3. Distribute the workload

Consider delegating work assigned to overstretched employees to others who have the time, capacity, and willingness to learn new skills. This has benefits on both sides—giving one employee more breathing room while giving another professional development opportunities. I have seen multiple team members flourish after they’ve taken on new responsibilities to help their fellow employees get through exceptionally busy periods at my company.

4. Encourage employees to use paid time off

Remind employees that their vacation days are something they've earned and should enjoy. Tell your members they shouldn't feel guilty about stepping away to spend time with their family and friends or to just unwind. Taking vacation time has proven mental and physical benefits that can lead to an overall happier and healthier team.

5. Surprise them with small but meaningful gestures

At my company, we like to treat our team members with little surprises to show our appreciation for their hard work. For example, we sometimes order a coffee/breakfast spread or catered lunch for those who work in our office, and we send our remote employees virtual gift cards to eateries in their area. Little things like that lift people’s spirits while giving them a chance to step away from their desks and socialize.

A happy team = Boundless possibilities

I hope these ideas will inspire you to reflect on how you can uplift your team and create an atmosphere where everyone feels valued and energized. After all, a happy and motivated team is key to advancing your vision and achieving your business goals.