Don't Let Summer Slow You Down

Summer should be a season of momentum, not a scramble to cover desks and keep deadlines on track. But for many HR leaders, June through August brings a familiar headache: key team members are out, productivity dips, and the work doesn’t pause just because someone’s at the beach. The good news? With a little proactive planning, you can navigate summer staffing gaps without missing a beat. Here’s how:

1. Audit Your Coverage Needs Before the Season Hits. Don’t wait until half your team has submitted PTO requests to figure out who’s covering what. In May, take stock of: Which roles are critical to daily operations; Who plans to be out and when; Where workflow bottlenecks are most likely to form; Having a clear picture early gives you the lead time to bring in support before things get stressful , not after.

2. Embrace Temporary and Contractual Talent. Summer is one of the best times to leverage temporary staffing. Skilled office professionals: executive assistants, project coordinators, data entry specialists, receptionists, and more are actively available and ready to step in quickly. Temporary staff can: Cover planned absences without overloading your permanent team; bring fresh energy and perspective to ongoing projects; be scaled up or down based on your actual needs week to week. Working with a staffing partner like Tori Thorne and Company means these candidates are already vetted, experienced, and matched to your culture — so onboarding is fast and performance is reliable from day one.

3. Cross-Train Now, Not Later. Summer gaps expose single points of failure. If only one person knows how to run payroll or manage your scheduling system, you’re one vacation away from a crisis. Use the spring months to cross-train team members on essential functions. Even basic coverage knowledge, enough to keep things moving while someone’s out can make a significant difference in day-to-day continuity.

4. Set Clear Communication Expectations. Remote work and hybrid schedules add complexity to summer coverage. Make sure your team has clear protocols for: Handoff documentation before time off Out-of-office coverage assignments. Response time expectations during the summer season. A simple shared coverage calendar and a “what to do if” guide for common tasks goes a long way toward keeping things running smoothly.

5. Use Summer as a Strategic Window. Not everything slows down in summer, and for some organizations, it’s actually an ideal time to tackle projects that get deprioritized during busier seasons: process audits, system migrations, onboarding documentation, and team training initiatives. Bringing in temporary project support during the summer can help you get ahead, so you’re not playing catch-up come September.

Plan Ahead to Stay Ahead. The companies that handle summer best aren’t the ones who react fastest, they’re the ones who plan earliest. Whether you need one skilled temp to cover a receptionist’s vacation or a whole team to support a summer initiative, we're here to help you staff smart.