July and August is often a slower time for many businesses with holidays, reduced demand, and teams working around absence cover. But rather than just ticking over until September, this quieter spell is the perfect opportunity to focus on staff wellbeing.
Here are a few simple but effective ways to support your team as summer draws to a close.
1. Make time for informal check-ins
Whether face-to-face or over the phone, a quick catch-up shows your team that their wellbeing matters. Keep it casual a five-minute chat can make someone feel seen and supported. You might uncover small issues before they become bigger problems.
2. Refresh routines before the busy season
Use the natural break in momentum to help people reset. It could be a quick desk tidy-up, a review of workloads, or a shift in how meetings are scheduled. Even small changes can reduce stress and help your team feel more in control.
3. Encourage healthy habits
If summer wellbeing challenges have taken off – like walking breaks or hydration reminders – look at what can be continued. A gentle reminder about the benefits of staying active and well can go a long way.
4. Rebuild team energy
With people returning from holidays at different times, August is a great month to reconnect. A shared lunch, a team coffee break or even just an end-of-week wind-down helps re-establish a sense of togetherness and team spirit.
5. Plan ahead with wellbeing in mind
If September is likely to bring a spike in demand, now’s the time to think about how to support staff through it. Consider any temporary changes to shifts, workloads or responsibilities – and make sure managers are equipped to check in regularly.
July and August doesn’t need to be a waiting game. With a few simple actions, you can boost staff wellbeing and start the autumn with a more motivated and refreshed team.
For anyone struggling with mental health you can find support here.
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