This week the Met Office issued its long-range forecast which predicted “very warm conditions” with the start of June and the summer months officially upon us.
While many will be looking forward to sunnier weekends, periods of extreme weather temperatures can often see a drop in productivity and motivation at work.
Now, Leadership and Management Tutor, Neil Finegan from flexible study providers, DLC Training, shares his tips for management and HR professionals to motivate their teams during a heatwave.
Communicate and acknowledge
“The first step to keeping your team motivated during a heatwave is to acknowledge openly the potential impacts to your team” Neil explains. “Communication is important if you want to prevent your employees from suffering the negative effects of extreme heat. Provide relevant and timely information across your organisation to educate on the signs of heat-related illness.”
Casual dress
Neil explains why letting workers opt for cooler and more casual clothing can impact productivity:
“Try to relax your dress codes if possible. While this might not always be possible depending on the industry you’re in, providing workers with an option to dress down a little and embrace cooler clothing will have a direct impact on their comfort and productivity.”
Remind your team to stay hydrated
Building on from the importance of proper communication, Neil emphasises the importance of keeping the team hydrated:
“Set hydration reminders to encourage employees to stay hydrated throughout the day. If you’re in an office environment a verbal nudge every few hours will help to remind employees. Of course, if your team is remote then it may be worth setting up reminders or sending messages across instant messaging services. Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining energy levels, focus and cognitive function.”
Embrace flexible working
Lastly, Neil encourages management to embrace flexible working. “Offer flexible work arrangements if possible. If you can, allow your employees to work remotely or encourage flexi time. This means your team can avoid working during some of the hottest times of the day as well as starting and finishing earlier to embrace the cooler hours.”
