3 Tips for Easing Back Into Work After Summer

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.

We've asked recruitment and management consultant Winnie S?nderk?r Rechnagel from the Danish company Flair to share her best tips.

Tip No. 1: Let go of stress by taking a vacation in the summer

A stress-free return to the office starts with a prioritized summer holiday.

According to Winnie S?nderk?r Rechnagel, we are disciplined when it comes to work 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", says Winnie S?nderk?r Rechnagel.

Tip No. 2: Managers, take a genuine interest in your co-workers' holidays

Winnie S?nderk?r Rechnagel's second piece of advice is that managers talk to their employees about their summer holiday, but you need to be genuine:

"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 S?nderk?r 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.

Tip No. 3: Ease the expectations for your employees' return

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.

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 S?nderk?r Rechnagel.

The bottom line is to prioritize the summer holiday for yourself and your staff and take some time to chat with your colleagues when you return. Doing so will make your transition back to work-life smoother.

Want to learn more about how to return from a summer holiday? Read the full article on our blog here.