Why your highest-paid workers are the least reliable during the summer
When the sun comes out next week, keep an eye on your top executives – it turns out they're the ones who are most likely to award themselves a cheeky couple of hours off, new research has shown.
The study, by business-to-business market place Approved Index, shows that of those earning the highest salaries – £50,000 or more – 74 per cent are likely to unofficially reduce their hours during the summer months. That's compared with 45 per cent of those on £10,000 or less.
That adds up: according to the study, the summer months cost businesses £8bn a year in reduced productivity.
Some 60 per cent of all workers said they tend to become less efficient during the summer (maybe time to ban those lunchtime pub trips?) – although another 60 per cent said their productivity improved after their return from holiday.
How to improve that productivity? Approved Index's Trilby Rajna suggested increasing the number of "yoga and personal training classes available during the summer and keep[ing] morale high by throwing summer socials such as sports days".
Hmm. Or, you know. Just get some air con and remind your workers that they still have a job to do. Bah, humbug…