Last week I was talking shop with someone from a visiting company about a document I needed to expedite for review.

I was slated to send the document on Friday, but this was a problem for my visitor because their company has one of the most sought after benefits: Summer hours.

For those that are unfamiliar with summer hours, it varies from company to company but generally speaking, it means that if you work 9 hour workdays, you will get every other Friday off. Some companies implement this year round whereas others only allow it to occur during the summer months. Regardless, it is quite the perk.

I’ve noticed two things when talking to others about summer hours:

1. Employees that don’t have them, want them.

2. Employees that do have them, never seem to be too excited about them.

The first item doesn’t require much discussion. Summer hours are awesome, I’ve never had them, and I’m with everyone else when I say, “I want them.”

For the second, I am truly sick and tired of hearing people down play their amazing perk. It seems like every time I ask questions about the specifics, I always get some depressing response like:

They [summer hours] are nice but it never seems to work out. You usually have to come in on Friday anyways.

I always find that a person with summer hours acts as if it’s difficult to take the Friday off because they are simply “too busy.” At these offices, I’d like to see the breakdown of people who come in versus vacation. I’m guessing that the one free Friday he or she had to work, was a one time deal.

Then you have to hear complaints about working 9 hour days. Earth to Matilda, the United States has one of the highest percentages of people working in excess of 40-hours per week. Most of us work 9 hour days anyways. I’m not buying it.

Guess what, I have to work every Friday without the hope of getting the next Friday off. Last time I checked, parole was a good thing. People want that hope.

Is it obvious that I want summer hours? Yes. Am I sick of hearing excuses as to why they aren’t the best thing on earth? Yes.

Please do me a favor and stop acting so depressed about it, the rest of the world is jealous.

Related Posts

1. 
   
   Suggestions to Keep The ‘Ice’ in The ‘Office’ This Summer
2. 
   
   “Must-Haves” For A Summer In The Cubicle
3. 
   
   Oil-Conscious Fashion For The Summer

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