We are well into summer, and I recently was in a discussion with a colleague about “Summer Fridays”.  ”Summer Fridays” are basically the idea that companies close on Fridays and have a four-day work week in the summer time – for a multitude of reasons, but namely to increase worker morale and productivity.  A recent article I read reports data that states that approximately 75% of workers surveyed believed that a “Summer Friday” policy would make them be more productive; however, researchers also stated that supervisors may feel differently (and were not included in the above survey).

My personal opinion?  That YES, Summer Fridays are a great idea…and from many vantage points.  Firstly, they increase workplace morale and give employees extra incentive to work harder during the four days they are present so they can enjoy their fifth day off…thus also increasing productivity.  Some workplaces may even consider this a cost-saving maneuver as well.

I was always a big fan of creating my own “Summer Friday” schedule.  My employer never offered this perk, so I always tried to accrue as much vacation time as possible throughout the year, and take as many Fridays (or Mondays) off as I could without compromising the quality of my work.  This way I was always feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and I could take a lot of long-weekend trips with my family.

There is something energizing about a four-day work week