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How to ask for Summer Fridays

Get yourself the right to shut your computer at noon

Hey pals. I always like to start the week by celebrating one small win. This week’s win is that I only snoozed my alarm three times instead of my usual five this morning. Progress is progress!

Monday vibes: “Steal My Sunshine” plays over and over in my head whenever I find out people actually work on Fridays in the summer. Today’s edition may help put a stop to that.

—Rod

How To Get Summer Fridays

Wow, the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution has had quite the glow-up since I had to memorize it in 5th grade

Our campaign for Summer Fridays continues—we’re not backing down and neither should you. Today we’re talking about how to petition your company for Summer Fridays if you don’t already get ‘em. Remember, in a world of Captain Stones, be a Cadet Kelly.

Let’s begin, shall we? Before you send that perfectly crafted email asking your boss for Summer Fridays, you’ll want to do some prep. Start here:

  • Gather the facts. You need some qualitative and quantitative data to convince your manager to give you more time off. We’ve got you: Research shows that time off helps with burnout, mental health, and employees’ overall happiness and well-being. Check out our last Summer Fridays edition for more evidence to sway your manager. Because you can’t argue with facts!

  • Recruit the troops. Research is one thing, but actual feedback from your coworkers makes your request even stronger. Get some colleagues involved and approach your boss as a team. Because what’s more compelling than one employee with unbelievable dark circles under their eyes thanks to burnout? Seven of them.

Now that you’ve got your rock-solid evidence and unwavering support, it’s time to take out your quill pen (or MacBook) and make your big ask. Here’s an example of what you can say to upper management:

Dear fun suckers, (JK, don’t say that)

Several members of our team have recently discussed our shared struggle with work-related burnout and stress. We believe that providing an early release on Fridays during the summer would help with this issue.

89% of workers surveyed have recently experienced burnout, and many of our team members are among those impacted.

Summer Fridays could provide some much needed rest for employees. What’s more, they’ve also been shown to boost productivity, help with recruitment and retention, and improve workplace morale. I’m happy to provide more details on the positive impacts of Summer Fridays if you’re interested.

On behalf of our team here at {name of company}, I would like you to consider providing early release Summer Fridays from Memorial Day through Labor Day of this year.

Thank you for your time and consideration. I am happy to continue this conversation in-person if necessary.

{Your Name}

There you have it. Your step-by-step guide to standing up for your entire company’s pursuit of long weekends. Keep me posted if your petition gets ratified.

WWCKD (what would Cadet Kelly do?)

Things to Slack your work besties

…while you check the UV index before laying out (3 or above = tan)

Research shows that people are less productive at work in the summer. While heat tends to make us feel tired and unmotivated, the sun provides serotonin that makes us want to focus more on our happiness and less on work. Slack your work besties? More like Slack your boss because the case for Summer Fridays just got stronger.

Nightly themed parties with friends and all of the original camp activities you did as a kid without the counselors? I’m listening. All-inclusive adult summer camps have become the rage and my middle school self is begging my parents to let me go.

From Barbie to a Jennifer Lawrence rom-com, this summer’s movie releases seem perfect for hiding out in an AMC theater when you’re getting zero work done on Friday. Which ones are you looking forward to seeing?

That’s all for today! Hope your week is filled with good vibes and lots of canceled meetings. TTYL (on Friday)!

IDK WHAT DO I KNOW?! LMAO!

—Rod

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