Summer Tips for HR Execs

With a little planning, seasonal issues such as dress codes or social events need not become a distraction.

Summer presents HR not only with unique staffing challenges, but also gives rise to the need for reminders about dress code policies and strategic planning for organization-wide social events.

Warm weather can tempt employees to eschew sensible shoes for flip flops, but in addition to being unprofessional, footwear can have a real impact on both worker and patient safety, says Owen Dahl, an independent consultant with the Englewood, Colorado-based Medical Group Management Association.

"It's becoming more of more of an issue as people become more casual," he says.  Some employees, especially younger ones, might not see the value in professional attire.

Related: Underwear, Tattoos, and Patient Safety

But patients prefer seeing clinicians in professional attire. And summer is a good time to remind staff of dress code policies.

"Every time a patient comes in to the clinic or sees physicians on the wards, there's a certain expectation of how their physician will dress," says Christopher Petrilli, MD, an internal medicine resident at the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor and lead author of a study on the role of physician attire in patient satisfaction.

In addition to possibly affecting patient satisfaction scores, safety can be compromised when workers wear inappropriate footwear.

Healthcare isn't the only industry that has to tell workers to rein in their personal style.

Dahl recalls seeing a barista at Starbucks a with a bandage on her arm. He asked her how she had injured herself, and she revealed that the bandage was covering a large tattoo management had deemed inappropriate for a client-facing worker to display.

If Starbucks can tell baristas that certain styles aren't workplace-appropriate, hospitals can do the same, concludes Dahl.

But keep in mind: 93% of Millennial workers say they want a job where they can be themselves at work, and 79% think they should be able to wear jeans at least some of the time.

As the world becomes a less formal place, experimenting with less formal dress codes might go a long way toward Millennial worker retention.

Summer Outing Strategies

Along with the office holiday party, summer outings are great opportunities for employees to get together and socialize outside of the normal work environment.

"I like the idea of those kinds of events—I believe building relationships has some side benefits," says Dahl, citing improved morale as one.

But organizations must ensure that these events are enjoyed safely. Drunk driving, inappropriate interactions between employees (including, but not limited to, sexual harassment), and other dangerous activities can turn summer events into an HR nightmare. 

• Hold these events at family-friendly venues and encourage employees to bring their families along for the day. Workers are less likely to misbehave when there are kids or spouses present, says Dahl.
• Limit the amount of alcohol that is served or elect not to serve alcohol.
• Arrange for transportation if necessary. Have access to a cab service or ride-sharing app in case anyone looks like they could use some help getting home for any reason, alcohol-induced or otherwise.

"A family-based situation, especially a picnic during the summertime, would be a good idea," says Dahl. Outdoor activates might include a barbeque or a company ball game, such as volleyball or softball.

He suggests avoiding risky activities such as hang gliding or ziplining. "I'd stay away from those. Keep yourself where the exposure to liability is less."