Sun, Sand, and Serenity: Unlocking the Power of Summer for Employee Wellbeing and Productivity

Here it is – at last! Although unpredictable in so many ways, the British Summer is a time of year we all look forward to. The bright blue skies, the gardens full of colourful things, the long warm evenings filled with BBQ smoke and burnt sausages.

It’s not just the ice cream sellers and seaside cafes that benefit from summer though, there’s evidence to suggest that taking time away from the usual domestic and work routines can also improve our mental health and overall sense of wellbeing. This is good news, particularly for employers who, post-Covid, find themselves taking a more active role in the physical and mental welfare of their employees.

For many, it’s the beaches and campsites which form the focal point for summer holidays and these short trips away can have a lasting impact. A survey by the Caravan and Motorhome Club found that the smell of salt air, cut grass and a freshly brewed coffee reminds people of happier times on holidays. Their survey also revealed a significant percentage of people are more physically active when away from home and this contributes to a feeling of wellbeing.

Mowing the lawn with a coffee in one hand may be one way to relax, but the view that being more physically active contributes to wellbeing is also endorsed by the leading health and fitness group PureGym.

In their annual Fitness Report, they found that nearly a quarter of the UK population don’t consider themselves to be healthy from any point of view (including mental health). As a standalone fact this is cause for concern, but PureGym also found that 79% of the population say their health is a higher priority now than it was three years ago, which is a bit more encouraging. They also point to the benefits that even moderate physical activity can have on mental health.

It is perhaps too easy to summarise the message that taking time off, even in short breaks, and moving around more is the key to enhanced wellbeing. It’s clearly a lot more complicated than that particularly if financial worries, caring responsibilities or long-term health issues are in play, but there is some truth to it.

Is there a message for employers in all of this?

The takeaway is that prioritising wellbeing should be a strategic priority for businesses. Yes, ‘wellbeing’ is a vague term, but encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle, focusing on employee welfare and improving the environment people work in can deliver real results. It allows people to think better, be more productive, reduces sickness, encourages loyalty and contributes to the development of a positive workplace culture.

The summer months can of course be tricky for many businesses as staff all rush to take significant chunks of annual leave over the same month or two. And there’s the familiar challenge of trying to keep workplaces to reasonable temperatures and of working parents managing childcare duties. But we should take our lead from the Caravan Club and PureGym. Over these warmer months, we should try to take a break, get out more, be more active and create memories. The positive impact could last much longer than you think.

If you would like to know more about developing health and wellbeing policies for your business, Irwin Mitchell’s employment team can help. Further information on this can be found here: Employment Solicitors for Business | Irwin Mitchell