Summer Fridays fade as workplace flexibility rises
PENNSYLVANIA, UNITED STATES—Summer Fridays, once a coveted workplace perk that allowed employees to leave early or take the day off during summer months are becoming increasingly rare.
According to Gartner’s research, only 11% of organizations offered Summer Fridays in 2023, down from 55% in 2019.
“One of the great things about Summer Fridays was that they offered opportunity for employees to have more flexibility,” said Caitlin Duffy, senior director of research at Gartner.
“But over the past couple of years, so many organizations have adapted to more flexible work policies and models.”
The rise of remote and hybrid work models
The decline in Summer Fridays is largely attributed to the rise of remote and hybrid work models, which have become more prevalent since the pandemic.
A 2023 survey from Monster.com, a job recruiting website, found that only 34% of workers in the U.S. were offered summer benefits.
Meanwhile, a Gartner survey revealed that 15% of companies offer 4.5-day workweeks, 10% have four-day workweeks, and 31% allow generally flexible hours.
“I think it will probably kind of maintain its position as one of the different flexibility options on the table,” Duffy says, referring to Summer Fridays.
“But I think, generally, it might not be as impactful as some of the other things that are being explored right now.”
Four-day workweek tops employee wish list
This shift aligns with the growing demand for shorter workweeks and work-life balance.
Sixty-four percent of workers cited a condensed four-day schedule as their top desired workplace perk, according to Bank of America’s 2024 Workplace Benefits Report.
A recent CNBC/Generation Lab survey echoes this sentiment, showing that 81% of American young adults support a four-day workweek, believing it would boost productivity.
Beyond the workplace, the reduced workweek has also gained support from lawmakers and prominent business leaders. Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced a bill in March that would establish a 32-hour standard workweek without a pay cut, while Rep. Mark Takano (D-Calif.) reintroduced a companion bill in the House.
In the United Kingdom, 89% of the 61 companies in the trial still have a four-day week policy one year later. Over half, or 51%, have formally made the shortened week permanent.
