Some people continue to work, while others take advantage of the bright days to go on holiday. Furthermore, the issue for those who remain isn't simply a lack of leave.
Not Augustian, not Julyist. Every Friday evening, they wish happy holidays to those who are departing. They greet those who return from summer vacation the following Monday with a tan and a smile on their faces. Those who don't take vacations are the first to see these comings and goings.
Some people work all summer long because they don't have enough vacation days, they can't make ends meet, or they just want to socialise with all the tourists. It can be thrilling to have to keep working when everyone else is having a great time on vacation, whether or not it's sunny outside.
What if the issue with working throughout the summer has nothing to do with the actual work? Colleagues are one important part of professional activity, in addition to the responsibilities and missions that should be honoured.
The noticeable serenity that coworkers on vacation left
Offices being empty can have both benefits and drawbacks. Some find that the significant staff reduction provides a much-needed sense of peace.
There are less people on the road or on public transit, the speed of work or meetings is often slowed and the professional environment becomes calmer . Claire, who finds summer work quite enjoyable, confides, "The weather is rainy, traffic is smooth, and other people's vacations allow me to make progress on files that I cannot normally handle."
We feel uncomfortable with other people, yet we still find solace every day, which makes it unique, she continues. And with good reason—26 percent of respondents to a Kactus study said they are using the downtime to finish up unfinished business.
Nearly a quarter of respondents (23%) believe that organising and sorting their workspace will help them see things more clearly. Emma describes it as "kind of like a parenthesis in a life at 100 miles per hour."
Summertime employment: farewell to socialising?
However, some individuals may find it more difficult to remain cool when there are so few people on the team that you end up working alone.
If there was some peace in the beginning, Mathilde noticed a certain emptiness very soon. She acknowledges, "I gradually realised the importance of colleagues." Conversations with my coworkers, even the ones who occasionally irritate me, are beginning to be missed. She learned about their "enriching exchanges" because of their absence.
She confides, "Every day, they teach me more about life and about myself." She understood the impact of her coworkers on her work, beyond the talks' personal interest.
She says, "I feel less efficient and motivated to come to work without these moments of socialisation." The administrative management employee, who began August dreading the return of her coworkers, finds herself "waiting impatiently" for it to arrive.