Small Businesses Use Summer Hours to Boost Morale

Many U.S. businesses are adopting summer hours, typically reducing Friday schedules between Memorial Day and Labor Day, to boost employee morale and retention. This practice helps employees manage summer childcare gaps, enjoy more family time, and feel valued by their employers. Small businesses, which often have fewer resources, find that offering flexible summer schedules can be a competitive advantage in attracting and retaining talent. However, these schedules are not universally applicable and require trial and error to implement effectively. Examples include Lalo, a baby product company, which closes at 1 p.m. on Fridays and offers extended holiday weekends, benefiting its largely parent-based workforce. Corporate Ink, a PR firm, also uses summer hours as a recruitment and retention tool, particularly during the 'Great Resignation'.