4 Employee Engagement Ideas for Summer to Boost Connection and Morale:
Beat the Heat and July Slump With These Meaningful Activities for Your Staff
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
2025 began a bit like a bulldozer. Employees are experiencing burnout and layoff anxiety at all-time highs. Uncertainty causes stress. And we haven’t seen so much of this since the pandemic.
Organizations have always experienced challenges keeping employees engaged and productive during the summer months. And this year is no exception. Don’t fret because there are great ways to keep up the momentum of work in the slog of those summer months.
4 Meaningful Actions to Maintain Employee Engagement During Summer:
Provide Opportunities for Growth and Learning
Employees are more likely to stay engaged when they feel like they’re growing. Whether they participate in skills training, attend conferences, sign up for workshops, or explore educational opportunities, investing in your staff’s professional development is always a good idea. The summer months, often quieter in terms of major deadlines, are a perfect time to introduce low-pressure learning opportunities.
Why it works: Employees value development. When people feel supported in their growth, they’re not just more productive, they’re more invested in the company’s mission.
Get Outside!
Plant and work on a community garden. Other outside options include lunchtime park walking clubs, outside meetings, picnic lunches, and after-hours sports competitions. Consider a bike-a-thon month, challenging employees to arrive in all things muscle-powered (bicycles, scooters, and by foot – no electronic ones!). Being outside is good for our brains and bodies.
Why it works: The American Psychological Association writes that being outside brings down stress levels, improves concentration, and simply makes us feel better. It’s beneficial for our emotional and mental well-being. In Japan, they call this Forest Bathing. It’s not junk science. It’s real.
Think Outside the Organization- Introduce Fun, Engaging Challenges
Engagement isn’t always about work—it’s about fostering a sense of fun and community. Why not introduce a friendly summer competition? A fitness challenge, a creativity contest, or a "summer reading" challenge that encourages team members to share their latest book or podcast can keep spirits high.
Why it works: Incorporating creativity and team challenges into workplace culture gives employees a break from the usual routine. This can boost morale and bring people together in new ways.
Give Back!
Building on the community garden idea, your organization can uplift morale through a meaningful Corporate Social Responsibility Program. Organize a community cleanup day. Participate in a run that supports a local Boys & Girls Club or other non-profit organization. Partner with a shelter that provides food and housing for unhoused people. Have staff volunteer to help students with summer homework and reading programs. Prepare and serve food. Do a clothing and food drive. There are so many ways to give back to your community.Offer paid working hours for your employees to volunteer.
Why it works: Corporate volunteerism strengthens teams, improves retention, and enhances your reputation, making you more attractive to employees and customers. People want to work for companies that do good, not just do business. And we’ve seen firsthand this year: organizations that scaled back meaningful DEI initiatives have felt the impact, from employee disengagement to reputational (and financial) setbacks.
Keeping employees engaged in July is really about tuning in to what your team needs most—growth, connection, and a little room to breathe. Summer naturally brings a different rhythm to work, so it’s the perfect time to focus on what keeps people feeling motivated and valued. There’s no one-size-fits-all solution here. Some employees might light up at a new learning opportunity, while others recharge through a team hike or a long weekend. Whether it's mixing in fun challenges, encouraging time off, or just checking in more often, summer engagement should feel like a thoughtful pause, not just another item on the to-do list.
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