3 Tips: How to Get Back to Work From Summer Holiday
Ready to return to the office after the summer holiday? Downtime is crucial for employee engagement, but creating a good work environment when employees return is just as important. Read along for tips on how to get back to work.
Welcome back! Are you ready to get back to work? Perhaps not quite yet; getting back into work mode can be difficult. You’ve probably heard of post-vacation depression or post-holiday blues, which can impact your work well-being.
Everyone wants to return to the office stress-free, and there are a couple of things you and your employees can do to return calmly. We’ve asked recruitment and management consultant Winnie Sønderkær Rechnagel from the Danish company Flair to share some of her best tips.
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Get Back to Work Tip No. 1: Prioritize the Summer Holiday
A stress-free return to the office starts with a prioritized summer holiday. Getting the needed time to relax, away from meetings and deadlines, allows the brain and body to charge up and be ready for yet new and exciting work adventures. According to Winnie, when it comes to work, we are disciplined and like to do it to the best of our ability. That’s precisely why we need to take periods off work.
“Here in Denmark, we have a solid work ethic, so we put much of ourselves into our work and invest much of our energy into what we do. Therefore, it is essential to have these breathing spaces where we can completely relax our minds, slow down, and take in different kinds of nourishment. This way, we can perform well again. So, it’s essential to have these periods where we step back”, says Winnie Sønderkær Rechnagel.
Get Back to Work Tip No. 2: Managers, Talk With Your Employees
Winnie Sønderkær Rechnagel’s second piece of advice is that managers talk to their employees about their summer holiday, but you need to be genuine:
“As a manager, I think showing positive attention to your employees when they return from vacation is important. People often reassess their work life during their time off, so if you want to retain and boost your staff, you can show that you are genuinely happy to have them back. What happened in the south of France? Did you manage to pick all those grapes?”
At Flair, Winnie Sønderkær Rechnagel and her colleagues have noticed an increasing number of candidates curious about other jobs after the summer holiday. Therefore, paying extra attention to employee well-being is vital if you want your employees to stay with your company:
“There needs to be space, time, and genuine interest in how people have been. If they are having thoughts like, ‘Oh, I’m not sure I want to go back to that role or task,’ it might be right in the conversation that you spot it. Then, you can work together on a solution.”
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Get Back to Work Tip No. 3: Take a Slow Start
Finally, when you do return, take a slow start. Encourage employees to take small steps as they return to their roles where extra work hours are no-go. Winnie continues:
“I wouldn’t recommend you go through all your emails in one sitting on the first day. Instead, spread it out over several days.”
And if you think of holding meetings on the first day back at work, don’t do it. Your colleagues also need time to adjust and chat with co-workers, so push the meetings forward a few days.
“Returning from vacation is almost like a mini-onboarding. You need to talk about those floaties that didn’t work and the sangrias that did. There should be space for that, so you have a smooth transition back,” says Winnie Sønderkær Rechnagel.
FAQ: How to Best Get Back to Work From Summer Holiday?
How can you best return to work after the summer holiday?
Starting with a short day on your first day back at work after the summer holiday can be a good idea. This way, you avoid a harsh start that can leave you exhausted after a good break from work.
How long should a summer holiday away from work be?
The ideal summer holiday length varies from person to person to fully disconnect from work. However, it is a good idea to take advantage (if you have it) of the three consecutive weeks your employer likely provides during the summer.
What should I do if I have the summer vacation blues after returning to work?
Start gently with a short day without meetings to avoid the summer vacation blues. Don’t worry about catching up on all unread emails immediately. Focus on returning to the workplace by chatting with colleagues about their vacations and gradually taking on your tasks.
How can I ensure my employees return well after the summer holiday as a manager?
As a manager, you can give your employees extra attention by sincerely asking about their summer holiday and how it went rather than diving straight into work tasks.
What measures should I take as a leader to ensure my employees return well after the summer holiday?
Avoid scheduling meetings for your employees on their first day back at work after the summer holiday. Allow them to ease back into their work roles.
