5 HR tips for coping with the heatwave!
While the hot weather is great for morale, it can mean an increase in staff absence as employees try to make the most of the sun.
For many “the heat is on” for many workers spending their days outdoors, in poorly-ventilated offices or dressed in heavy-duty protective clothing.
People who have workers outside should ensure that they are protected against damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight that could cause skin cancer.
Here’s 5 tips for how managers and HRs teams can manage unauthorised absence and keep employees productive and motivated:
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It sounds harsh, but whilst managers should be empathetic to heat related conditions, make sure your team’s sickness and holiday is recorded accurately and fairly and dealt with under your normal policies. Most businesses using paper or spread sheets to manage absence admit they ‘skip’ recording the odd occasion of holiday or absence, which creates upset among co-workers.
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Have a plan for managing a sudden increase in leave requests. How will you cope if all your fork lift drivers want to take the same days off? Make sure your staff are fully aware of your policies around annual leave.
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Relaxing the dress code a little in hot weather can help your staff feel more comfortable at work. Your customers will be warm too, so will understand if people are dressed in a cooler way.
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Flexible working arrangements can really help staff cope in hot weather. You could offer flexible start and finish times so staff can avoid commuting at busier times, and if staff are able to work from home, consider allowing them to do so.
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If you don’t have air conditioning, make sure your staff have access to cold drinks – hydration is important so consider giving staff extra breaks for tea/coffee if they are not allowed to drink at their desk.
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Why not treat your team to an ice cream – simple but effective motivation guaranteed!
