What Are Summer Fridays, and Which Companies Offer Them?

As the days stretch longer and the warmth of summer beckons, who wouldn't jump at the chance to escape the office grind and enjoy some early leisure? Whether catching a matinee, enjoying a lazy park picnic, or simply beating the rush hour home, summer Fridays turn ordinary afternoons into mini vacations. So, what are summer Fridays and how can they benefit you?

These blissful half-days—or sometimes even whole days off—typically offered between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the corporate world's way of saying, "Go ahead, start the barbecue early!" It's a fantastic perk that allows you to wrap up your workweek early, giving a whole new meaning to TGIF—a clear indication of a company that truly values work-life balance.

In this article, you’ll find out what summer Fridays are, the different forms they come in, and the tangible benefits they bring. We also spotlight some standout companies that typically offer this golden ticket to weekend bliss. So, grab your sunglasses and discover how snagging summer hours at work can transform your week from endless to extraordinary, making the grind feel like a breeze.

What Are Summer Fridays?

The concept of summer Fridays was born in the 1960s, a brainchild of New York advertising agencies looking to prevent the summer slump. With the city emptying out as the heat climbed, these agencies let employees skip out early on Fridays, banking on the fact that refreshed, happier employees bring better ideas and more energy to the table come Monday.

So, what are summer Fridays like in the modern workplace? Fast-forward to today, and you've got a variety of summer Friday flavors sweeping through all sorts of industries. Some companies let you jet off at noon, while others give you the entire day. Sometimes this perk is a given, in other companies you may have to make up the hours throughout the week. The approach varies, but the idea remains the same: giving employees more freedom to enjoy the summer sun at the end of the week.

The popularity of summer Fridays can be attributed to a shift in our work culture, with a greater emphasis on work-life balance and employee well-being. Plus, companies are vying for top talent in such a competitive job market, and benefits like summer Fridays are becoming a key attraction.

In fact, 41% of workers most value summer Fridays and 4-day weeks as employee perks. In a society that often glorifies overwork, having an employer who actively promotes relaxation and rejuvenation is a rare and valuable find.

Types of Summer Fridays

Now that you know what summer Fridays are, it's essential to be aware that exactly how this perk looks can vary significantly from one workplace to another, tailored to fit the company's culture, workflow, and employee needs. Here's a rundown of the various styles employers might offer to help you slide into the weekend with a smile:

• Full Friday off. This is the most generous version, where employees get the entire day off. Depending on the company's policy, this can be every Friday during the summer months or every alternate Friday.
• Half-day Fridays. This version allows employees to leave work early, typically after lunch, around 1 or 2 p.m. It's a popular offering that gives you a head start on your weekend plans without taking a full day off.
• Flexible hours. Some companies offer flexible hours on Fridays, where employees can start their day earlier to finish earlier. For instance, if you start your day at 7 a.m., you might be able to leave by 3 p.m.
• Time bank. In this arrangement, employees can work extra hours during the first four days of the week to have enough time to take off on Friday. This might mean longer workdays from Monday to Thursday but results in a free Friday.
• Rotating Fridays. Not every company can afford to give every employee every Friday off, so some rotate which employees get off when. This ensures that the office is never completely empty, maintaining productivity.
• Optional summer hours. Some workplaces offer a more voluntary approach, where employees can participate in summer Fridays or stick to their regular schedule, possibly for overtime pay or other incentives.

Reasons to Love Summer Fridays

Summer Fridays should definitely be on your radar when you're on the hunt for a new gig. Here are some of the fantastic benefits that come with this sweet perk:

• Better work-life balance. With a shortened Friday at work or the entire day off, you'll have way more time to enjoy your life outside the office. Whether hitting the beach, firing up the grill, or just lounging in the sun, summer Fridays give you that extra breathing room you crave.
• Happiness and morale. Let's be honest, who doesn't feel appreciated when their employer offers up a perk like summer Fridays? It's a nice little reminder that they value you and want you to have a good time – an excellent sign of a positive work environment. And the payoff is that you tend to be more engaged and productive when on the clock.
• Reduced stress. What are summer Fridays for if not to improve your mental health? With more time to recharge those batteries, you'll be ready to tackle the workweek feeling refreshed and stress-free. Burnout and work anxiety? Not on your watch, thanks to those glorious summer Fridays.
• Health benefits. With more free time on Fridays, you can actually get outside, soak up some vitamin D, exercise, and take better care of your physical and mental well-being. It’s a win-win!

Which Industries Typically Offer Friday Flexibility?

Summer Fridays are a popular perk in industries where flexibility doesn't throw a wrench in daily operations. The top two environments you can expect to find these benefits in are:

• Creative industries. Think advertising, marketing, and design thrive on flexibility and innovation, making summer Fridays a perfect match for their dynamic culture.
• The tech industry. Tech is always on the cutting edge of workplace trends. Offering summer Fridays helps these companies attract top talent by promoting a healthy work-life balance.

On the flip side, other sectors find it challenging to send employees home early. For example, in healthcare, the need for round-the-clock patient care makes summer Fridays a logistical nightmare. The same goes for retail and hospitality, where summer can actually mean peak business hours due to tourism and holiday shopping.

Manufacturing and construction industries also tend to skip summer Fridays—meaning they continue to operate on strict production schedules where every hour counts. In these environments early closures are impractical.

Summer Fridays and the Return to the Office

As we shifted back to office life after the popularity of working from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fate of summer Fridays is getting a bit of a mixed response from employers. As many office doors have reopened, companies are rethinking this initiative. Take Goldman Sachs summer Fridays, for instance—they've pulled back on offering this perk, aiming to bring back the old-school vibe of full work weeks and scale back on workplace flexibility.

The debate is heating up around what the future of work should look like. After getting a taste of greater flexibility, many are resistant to returning to the old ways and losing benefits like summer Fridays. This tension highlights a growing disconnect between traditional corporate beliefs and what employees have come to expect after years of more adaptable work environments.

But the good news is that plenty of companies are still offering this benefit. It’s worth asking during recruitment periods if you can negotiate flexible summer hours even if they’re not standard in your package.

Companies Offering Summer Fridays

The following companies recognize the importance of work-life balance and implement summer Fridays (or similar) to ensure their employees have time to relax and rejuvenate. Look out for these businesses in your job hunt:

• BambooHR - This HR software company prioritizes work-life balance. It offers flexible scheduling, including summer Fridays, to ensure employees have time to recharge.
• Buffer - A social media management platform known for its progressive work policies, Buffer has adopted a four-day workweek year-round after finding success with summer Fridays.
• DearDoc - This healthtech company supports summer Fridays, allowing employees to start their weekends early.
• Deloitte - As part of its focus on flexibility and well-being, the global accounting firm offers a compressed working week for the summer, which means a finish time of 2 p.m. on Fridays if employees meet their target hours.
• Discover Financial Services - This credit card services and consumer banking firm has a reputation for fostering a supportive work environment that focuses on employee well-being and work-life balance. It offers summer hours as part of its flexible work arrangements.
• FYND Media - A division of the M&C Saatchi Group, this digital advertising firm fosters a culture that supports work-life balance and creative freedom. As part of its flexible work policy, it offers employees summer Fridays.
• Lower - A fintech company based in Columbus, OH, Lower allows employees to leave the office at 4 p.m. on Fridays throughout the year, not just in the summer.
• Monster - Monster offers employees summer Fridays, where they can finish at lunchtime in July and August but must make up the hours across the week. This also applies to every second Friday of the month throughout the year.
• Petram Analytics - This data firm offers summer Fridays and early half-days and organizes summer team outings to foster a supportive work environment.
• Signal Advisors - This Detroit-based startup provides summer Fridays as a half-day every other Friday, along with other flexible work benefits.

Discover Top Jobs with Summer Perks on Monster

Don't let another summer pass you by in that less-than-ideal job. What are summer Fridays going to do for your job satisfaction? Apply to companies offering this fantastic perk with just one click! Start by creating a free profile and find a role where every Friday feels like the beginning of a mini-vacation. You'll also receive customized job alerts, career advice, and job search tips straight to your inbox.