Employers face major motivation challenge as summer break ends.
Employers hoping for a rejuvenated workforce after the August bank holiday will probably have to wait longer than they bargained for, according to Investors in People, the organisation that works with organisations to improve productivity.
A survey of return to work employees suggests that, far from feeling refreshed when they get back to work, almost sixty percent of British workers don’t settle back into a regular working pattern immediately. A third of employees dread going back to work.
The survey, conducted on behalf of Investors in People by YouGov, shows that 39 per cent of employees take at least a day to get back into their regular working pattern after a holiday, with one in six taking two or three days to get back up to speed. Almost a third (32 per cent) said the biggest barrier to getting back into their routine was that they felt less motivated than when they left before their holiday and a similar number (34 per cent) blamed having too many emails and correspondence to deal with.
Says Simon Jones, Chief Executive of Investors in People (UK): “Employers have to recognise there is an issue and it is essential that they respond to it, particularly in the current climate. They can ill-afford a post-holiday productivity gap and should do everything they can to ensure people slot back in and quickly banish any ‘holiday hangover’.”
He continues: “Simply saying ‘welcome back’ is an important first step. Managers should also provide post-holiday briefings as quickly as possible. Think of it as a mini ‘re-induction’: it can help bring returning colleagues rapidly up-to-speed and galvanise them to deliver what the business needs from them. For large organisations in particular, the impact of staff taking up to a week to get back up to speed – as our research has found – could be significant and cannot therefore be ignored.”
The research comes at a crucial time for employers as they approach the final months of the year and hope to capitalise on any easing of the recession. The findings show the challenge that managers face to get their people rapidly re-engaged and making the contribution expected of them.
Investors in People also recommends considering:
- agreeing targets or goals that can be achieved in the first week back before people go on holiday
- ensuring managers are visible around their teams and connect with people on an individual basis on their return
- using team meetings to confirm overall business aims and targets for the coming months, before and immediately after the holiday season
- a team ‘kick off’ event for the final months of the year to inspire people as soon as they return after the summer
- giving colleagues Q&A ’surgery’ opportunities to help them raise any issues or concerns on their return
