Survey: How do you motivate employees through the end-of-summer slump? We asked clever bosses

DESTROY THE SUMMER SLUMP

Car-washing competitions, unlimited vacation, and other ways bosses keep their charges going during the dog days. By Arianne Cohen ring the dog days. By Arianne Cohen

“We’re motivating our flight attendants with recognition programs, including monthly cash bonuses, bucket-list trip giveaways, and other prizes as a way to say thanks.”

Allison Ausband Senior vice president for in-flight service, Delta Air Lines Delta Air Lines

“We have an “W h unlimited paid time- off policy, since high performance requires a sharp mind.”

John Boiler Co-founder, 72andSunny

“We encourage employees to share travel stories and photos with colleagues.

This reminds everyone to plan their vacations before the summer is over.

In customer service, it’s important to be well-rested.” es d

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“We foster year-round opportunities to work from home when needed, as well as flexible hours, which our team especially values during the warm months. At headquarters, A we have lunch BBQs we with live music w so staff can take a so break and enjoy b the weather.”

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Julie Bauer President, Panasonic Consumer Electronics

“I establish what I need “I esta done and by when, don and then allow everyone to and the figure out for themselves figure o how to make that work. how to Keeping the air conditioner Keeping cranked and starting cran office happy hour early office also helps.”

Michael Alter M Chief executive officer, Tie Bar Chief e

“Because a lot of people are out, this is a great this is a great “Because a lot of people are out, time to do one-on-one time with direct reports. ne-on-one time with direct reports.timetodoonneononetimewith d My team is spread out around the globe, so we spread out around the globe, so we use HireVue for video calls. It’s smart to call on for video calls. It’s smart to call on your direct reports below the equator who are reports below the equator who are not feeling the summer slowdown.” eling the summer slowdown.”

Oriana Vogel Vice president for global recruitment and human sident for global recruitment and human resources operations, American Express ources operations, American Express

“ “We are heads-down with the worldwide wide launch of our platform, so during these long days we’ll eat, run, and cycle ycle together. For August, we have a luau u picnic, a hackathon, soccer and pingpong pong tournaments, and, of course, show and and tell for the new features we build.” ”

David Gurle David Gurle CEO, Symphony CEO, Symphony

“Summer is our busiest time, so we get creative: This year we’re having a companywide challenge on friendliness. I will hand-wash the car of each employee who sees the largest increase in team friendliness scores on guest satisfaction surveys.”