Australian workers' productivity dips in summer months

Dayforce has released a survey indicating that Australian workers feel less productive during the summer months, with many employees continuing to check work emails even during their holidays.

The survey, conducted by Harris Poll for Dayforce, revealed that 45% of employees admit to a drop in productivity during the warmer months, and 39% confessed to slacking off when their boss is on holiday. Additionally, it was found that more than 60% of employees do not fully disconnect from work while on summer holiday.

This reduced productivity during the summer corresponds with some slackening tendencies; however, organisations are attempting to counteract this trend. The survey highlights that 60% of employees reported some form of summer flexibility offered by their employers, such as flexible work hours or schedules (35%), more work from home options (26%), and seasonal work from anywhere choices (21%).

"To perhaps beat summer slacking and keep employees engaged during the warmer months, six in ten employees say their employer has some form of summer flexibility," noted the findings.

Despite the efforts in place to mitigate summer slacking, 86% of employees with access to flexible work arrangements believe that these measures help reduce burnout. However, 49% said they can't always take advantage of these benefits.

Issues around flexible work arrangements stem from various factors, with 81% of employees noting negative aspects. These include challenges such as reduced productivity when colleagues are less available (34%), frustration due to being too busy (28%), and disruptions to daily routines (26%).

From a financial perspective, 26% of Australian employees expressed concern over being unable to afford holidays due to cost-of-living pressures. This reflects broader economic challenges affecting workers' ability to fully embrace available options to rest and recharge.

The survey highlights that many Australians prefer to take shorter breaks throughout the year rather than a long summer holiday, with 74% opting for this pattern. Furthermore, 61% of employees indicated a preference for taking additional days around festive public holidays or Australia Day, choosing instead to go on longer breaks during winter.

Employers looking to maximise the benefits of flexible work policies are encouraged to ensure clear communication of these policies, secure managerial buy-in, and understand individual organisational needs to effectively implement these strategies. Regular assessment of these policies' effectiveness is urged, based on employee feedback and utilisation rates.

This survey was conducted online by The Harris Poll in Australia from 28 October to 30 October 2024, among 456 full-time employed Australian adults aged 18 and older. The survey results are considered accurate to within a margin of error of +/- 4.7 percentage points, at a 95% confidence level.