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Not only will more employees be requesting annual leave at this time of year, but the slew of summer colds going around can leave your business vulnerable to excessive staff absences.

As many a small business owner will know, being left short-staffed over the summer months can put a strain on operations with the dwindling staff numbers having to pick up the slack.

Luckily there are plenty of initiatives you can introduce to encourage staff to focus, keep healthy and even stick around the office this summer.

Ten things UK office employees do to waste 12.5 working hours each week

Here are five ideas to get you going:

(1) Introduce summer working hours

Whether your team members are slacking off looking at holiday sites, or gazing out the window at cloudless skies, summer can be a very distracting time.

With workers up to 45 per cent more distracted during the summer months it’s worth remembering that it’s the sun they’re chasing – and they’re not getting it while they’re cooped up in your office all day.

When staff start clock-watching, SMEs need to think about how they can keep everyone focused on the task at hand.

One way that business owners can achieve this is by introducing summer working hours. If your business can accommodate flexible working hours during the summer it won’t just benefit your employees, but your business, too.

Starting the day earlier and allowing staff to enjoy the afternoon sun will give everyone
something to look forward to every day, boosting their motivation whilst in the office.

Not only that, but if staff don’t feel like they’re missing out on the weather during the week they may decide to bring forward or delay their annual leave dates, meaning more bums on seats during the summer months.

Continue reading on the next page for the tips to summer success.

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