FUN IN THE SUN - Survey Reveals Employees’ Most Prized Summer Benefits
 MENLO PARK, CA -- All work and no play makes for a dull summer, a new survey suggests. Flexible schedules (38 percent) and leaving work early on Fridays
(32 percent) are the most coveted summer benefits, according to workers polled.
The survey was developed by OfficeTeam, a leading staffing service specializing in the placement of highly skilled administrative professionals. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 457 workers 18 years of age or older and employed in an office environment.
Workers were asked, “Which of the following summer benefits would you most like to have?” Their responses:
Flexible schedules = 38%
Leave early on Fridays = 32%
Activities (e.g., company picnic, potluck) = 6%
More relaxed dress code = 5%
Other = 4%
Don’t know/no answer = 15%
TOTAL = 100%
“Employees appreciate flexibility in their jobs because it gives them greater control and enables them to handle other commitments without sacrificing their work performance,” said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam.
Flexible scheduling is an inexpensive way to keep employees motivated. To ensure customer service doesn’t suffer, Hosking suggested that businesses stagger workers’ schedules to maximize the total number of hours employees are available to assist customers. “Companies should pilot flexible schedule programs before rolling them out permanently,” Hosking recommended. “This gives businesses time to evaluate the impact on workflow and productivity.”
Even if companies aren’t able to implement flexible schedules, allowing employees to occasionally leave early on Fridays can have a positive effect on morale, Hosking noted. “Many workers schedule weekend trips during the summer and appreciate a head start on their travels,” he said.
Survey Methodology
The national survey was developed by OfficeTeam. It was conducted by an independent research firm and is based on telephone interviews with 457 full- or part-time office workers from a starting sample of 2,000 adults aged 18 or older. The results were then weighted to provide nationally representative and projectable estimates of the adult population 18 years of age and older. The sample is post-stratified and balanced by key demographics such as age, sex, race, region and education.
About OfficeTeam
OfficeTeam provides businesses with the highly skilled administrative professionals they need to maximize productivity, achieve cost efficiency and support existing staff. The staffing firm has more than 325 locations worldwide and offers online job search services at www.officeteam.com. |