Summertime at Work — Navigating Engagement, PTO and Changing Legislation

Happy summertime! Hopefully, you've had the chance to get outside, enjoy the summer sun and maybe even splash around in a pool or lake. For many business leaders, summer can be a weird time — vacations or long weekends interrupt workflows, and the summer heat can simply feel demotivating. The appearance of new legislation in the summer months also requires HR leaders and business owners to review their policies. 

The good news is, there are great ways you can lean into summer at work and make engagement, extra flexibility and new legislation work for you! 

What to Read 

Five Tips for Maintaining Employee Engagement During Summer – Blog Article  

Summer can be one of the most challenging times to keep employees engaged. There are days — predominantly Friday afternoons — when people's minds wander to other things, like going out for an extended lunch or leaving work early. Their minds may even wander to other job prospects… Keeping employees engaged during summer can be especially challenging, but it's not impossible. Learn how you can connect with employees during the summer. 

Current State and Local Minimum Wage Rates and Planned Increases Across the U.S. – Blog Article 

With some pre-scheduled legislative updates taking effect in the month of July, it's important for leaders to stay current on the laws governing state and local minimum wage rates. In addition, as with federal law, some state and local jurisdictions allow employers to pay less in cash wages than the applicable minimum wage when paying tipped employees. Considering that challenge, we have brought together state and local minimum wage rates in one comprehensive and up-to-date chart. 

How to Make Flex Time Work for Both Employees and Employers – Blog Article 

Flexible scheduling can work well for businesses. It can help attract and retain employees, and as work flexes with summer schedules, having more latitude in scheduling can help make the transition smoother. 

What to Watch 

How to Navigate the Ever-Changing Maze of State Paid Leave Laws – Webcast 

Compliance with paid leave of absence laws remains one of the top challenges facing HR professionals today, especially during the summer months, when some employees may be more likely to arrange for leave. Not only are leave laws complex — requiring HR professionals to navigate a network of federal and state mandates — but employer obligations are continuously changing through state and local legislation. Join the experts to learn about best practices, regulatory requirements and employee expectations. 

What to Know 

No matter your industry, navigating the challenges of summer can be tricky. But with some planning and effort, you can help make summer a season for time off, connection and engagement. Stay tuned for our upcoming newsletters with the latest information on topics like employee experience, generative AI and machine learning and employee benefits. Be sure to share this newsletter with your friends and colleagues who may want to become subscribers so they can stay on top of marketplace trends and insights like you!  

To stay current on the latest legislative rollouts and workplace guidelines, check out the SPARK blog.