A select group of American workers still enjoy a rare but valuable perk: “summer Fridays.”
This longstanding corporate tradition lets employees leave work around midday on Fridays to get an early start on the weekend. Whether they head to the beach or simply run errands, it’s extra time to relax and unwind.
Nicole Houston, a media relations specialist at a New York City communications firm who lives in Texas, usually signs off around 1 p.m. on Fridays. She uses those hours to walk her dog Zelda and clear her head with peaceful strolls.
“The world moves so fast now, and the news can be overwhelming. Life itself can be overwhelming,” she told Fortune. “It’s nice to pause, reflect on the week, and reclaim that time for yourself.”
But this easygoing tradition—which can range from a few hours off to an entire day—has been fading fast. In 2019, about 55% of North American workers reported having summer Fridays, according to consulting firm Gartner. By 2023, that figure had fallen to just 11%.
The decline isn’t new: companies have long been under pressure to boost productivity and profits. But HR and recruiting experts told Fortune that the real blow came from the rise of flexible work during and after the pandemic. With many employees already working remotely at the end of the week, companies have little incentive to promote a “leave early” culture.
“The spread of hybrid work and the flexibility of working from home have led some companies to reduce or eliminate summer Fridays,” said Mae Mendoza, a senior manager at recruitment firm Robert Walters. “Their reasoning is: ‘We’re already giving employees so much flexibility.’”
How remote work changed summer Fridays
Remote work was once a privilege for a small segment of employees, but pandemic lockdowns forced large numbers of white-collar workers to adapt to working from home. Though many have since returned to offices, these changes have stuck.
Just 8% of workers were fully remote in 2019. That figure skyrocketed to 70% in 2020, according to Gallup, and remains much higher than pre-pandemic levels. As of May 2024, around 27% of workers were exclusively remote. Meanwhile, hybrid arrangements rose from 32% in 2019 to roughly 53% five years later.
Among hybrid workers, Friday is the top day to work remotely. In 2023, only about 33% of employees came into the office on Fridays, compared to 63% on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. As Gallup put it: “The office tends to be a ghost town on Fridays.”
With so few people on-site, managers feel less urgency to formally grant time off. Many leaders also worry that remote employees aren’t working as hard. For example, Frontier Airlines’ CEO called remote workers “lazy” in 2023, and Blackstone’s Stephen Schwarzman said they “didn’t work as hard.” Such views have likely influenced companies to reject even small schedule reductions.
That suspicion has fed into a renewed corporate obsession with productivity. Even Goldman Sachs, which insisted on a five-day return-to-office policy, scrapped summer Fridays in 2023.
“Employers are saying, ‘With hybrid work, people have more flexibility. So why do we need summer Fridays?’” said Laurie Chamberlin, head of recruitment solutions for LHH North America. “Meanwhile, employees are saying, ‘I’m on 24/7 and I want official permission to cut out early.’ Companies are focusing on outputs, deliverables, and deadlines.”
PwC’s scaled-back summer Fridays
PwC’s UK division tried flexible summer Fridays in 2021. While three-quarters of employees said the perk boosted their well-being, the firm has been cutting back. What began as 12 half-days off was reduced to eight in 2023, and just six in 2024. The reason? A belief that stricter schedules boost productivity.
“Employers say, ‘You’re already working from home on Mondays and Fridays. I’m not getting the output I want. Why would I reduce your schedule further and get even less?’” Chamberlin explained.
PwC isn’t alone. “It aligns with the market becoming harder for employers to maintain profits,” said O’Rourke. “They’re trying to claw back whatever they can.”
Some companies still hold onto summer Fridays
Not every employer has abandoned summer Fridays.
IBM, KPMG, Pfizer, and Estée Lauder all continued offering flexible Friday schedules last year. KPMG frames it as a chance for staff to spend meaningful time with friends and family.
Experts say, however, they don’t expect the perk to rebound widely. Companies most likely to offer it already tend to have hybrid options. Still, despite its declining popularity, summer Fridays can deliver big benefits—especially in today’s climate of worker burnout.
Employees at companies that maintain the perk report that it helps them manage stress, improves emotional well-being, and leaves them refreshed for the week ahead. A 2023 Monster.com survey found about 66% of workers with summer benefits like reduced hours said it boosted their productivity.
“Summer Fridays improve retention and attraction, enhance morale and engagement, and reduce burnout,” Mendoza noted. “It’s also a way for companies to show they value work-life balance.”
Josiah Chambers, an account executive at a New York City PR agency that offers summer Fridays, told Fortune he typically logs off at 3 p.m. and spends his free time exploring new restaurants in Brooklyn.
“I’m much better prepared for Monday,” he said. “I don’t feel flustered going into the new week. It really reduces burnout, and it’s something to look forward to.”