There’s this idea that summer in the workplace is quieter. And in many ways, it is — emails slow down, people postpone meetings, and there’s a general “we’ll deal with that in September” energy in the air. It’s understandable. Colleagues are rotating through their holidays, clients are harder to reach, and even your own calendar seems to breathe a little easier.
But here’s the catch — HR doesn’t really have an “off season.” Especially when it comes to onboarding and offboarding. People still join the company. People still leave. And both of those transitions deserve care and attention, no matter what month it is.
I often find myself juggling welcome emails and access requests while half the team is out of office. Coordinating a first day when the manager’s on holiday, or planning an exit interview for someone who’s leaving quietly in August. It doesn’t stop — it just shifts. And honestly, it’s a strange balance. On one hand, the tempo is slower. But on the other, the stakes feel just as high.
Because for someone starting their first day, it doesn’t matter that it’s summer — they’re forming their first impressions now. And for someone ending their time with the company, that last interaction is what they’ll carry with them.
So yes, we’re still here. Even when everything else winds down a little, HR keeps moving in the background, making sure the people side of the business stays warm — even if the laptops around us are cooling down for holiday.
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