Work doesn't happen in a vacuum, especially during the summer. Vacations create coverage gaps, most extracurricular activities for kids end during the workday, and the pressure to maintain normalcy during an irregular season leaves many people stretched thin.
When we talk about Summer Fridays or four-day workweeks as an option to ease the stress of working during the summer, critics often jump to the conclusion that shorter workweeks imply employees just don’t want to work. But findings from our latest summer flexibility poll tell a much different story. One about care, balance, and burnout prevention.
More than half of women (65 percent) say Summer Fridays or a four-day workweek would help them better navigate shifting summer schedules and another 22 percent say more paid time off (PTO) or flexible hours would make the biggest difference in easing stress.
As a follow up, we asked how shifts in any of these areas would impact their lives. Their responses make it clear: Summer flexibility isn’t about working less, it’s about living more.
Read more: Compartmentalizing in 2025 Is Possible. Here Are 5 Ways to Work Through (Mostly) Anything
Summer flexibility is a lifeline for working parents
Flexibility is important for everyone, but especially so for working parents. According to a recent study of millennial parents with school-aged children, one in three doesn’t expect to have a single anxiety-free day this summer. It’s easy to see why.
Many say the end of the school year leaves them feeling anxious and overwhelmed as they adjust to new routines. Juggling work with kids suddenly home full-time is challenging, leaving parents little time for themselves while also keeping up with personal appointments, errands, and other household responsibilities.
For women, who often carry more of the mental load at home, summer flexibility isn’t just a nice-to-have. It’s a lifeline, giving them room to meet all the demands on their time without burning out, and helping them reclaim space to actually enjoy summer.
4 important ways summer flexibility impacts employees’ lives
Our audience told us exactly how more summer flexibility helps manage the season’s unique challenges.
1. It gives people time to manage their homes and personal lives
“Four-day workweeks allow me (as a working mom) a day to catch up on my home life. Grocery shopping, cleaning the house, meal prep, and maybe even a workout, allowing me to focus on family during the weekend and work during the week. I'm currently doing laundry during meetings, vacuuming while reading emails, and my weekends are spent not always focusing on family because those ‘maintenance’ home items weren't completed during the week.”
“More work-life balance, being able to get personal errands handled, and therefore being less distracted during other work hours.”
“If I had another day off, I could do so many things around the house and with my hobbies that I just don't have time for after work.”
“Provide an opportunity to rejuvenate (extended weekend travels) and take care of routine items that might typically be put off—laundry, doctor's visit, oil change, self care, etc. The end result is an employee who is more balanced, more committed and happy to be part of a flexible team/organization.”
2. It makes it easier to show up for kids and family
“I spend more time working than I do with my family. Right now my paid time off is for appointments and school activities. I would love to have more PTO to spend with my family just because.”
“It would allow me to spend more time with my kids/family and be a part of what they are doing more often (ie. swimming lessons, park play, summer movie theater). I feel I am missing out on so much of their lives by working throughout the day.”
“The ability to smoothly work around camp time would ease the stress of the summer and the headache of patching together childcare for when camp is not in session but work is.”
3. It helps improve reduce stress and prevent burnout
“I was torn between Summer Fridays and more flexible hours. I am required by local leadership to be in the office. I find it stagnant, depressing, and stressful. I seem to thrive in my own environment. I wish I felt able to better advocate for my mental health for the ability to work remotely (like much of the company) at least two-three days per week. In a future role, I will not accept it unless it is hybrid (clearly defined) or fully remote.”
“Return more refreshed. Ease up on stress. Richer life with different experiences or time to work on home projects during staycation or connecting with friends and family who live far away.”
“Being able to make my own hours would allow me to continue my physical therapy and attend my medical appointments.”
4. It gives employees more autonomy and space to disconnect
“It would impact my life greatly to have a week's shutdown where no one expected anything from me. Since everyone would be off, there wouldn't be the shame of completely disconnecting.”
“I struggle to take vacation time, especially in larger chunks (ex: a week) for personal reasons (what to do, vacation funds, family responsibilities, etc) and using my PTO for more frequent one-off days is more difficult work wise than just being out a week. Built in four-day workweeks (even if four days, 10 hours) supports both the personal and work difficulties.”
“They would remind me that we are only human and deserve rest, and that even the top exercises understand that. I was sad this past Memorial Day realizing how many businesses were open and operating. I think we forgot as a nation what it means to recognize a holiday. Some things are more important than work and money. Everything moves so quickly now, we feel like we need permission to slow down. I think a week-long shutdown would do a lot to change the culture.”
