TGIF: Washington Offices That Treat Employees Right on Summer Fridays

Last week, we wrote about companies that close early on summer Fridays—and count it as paid time off—to help their staffers get a jump on the weekend.

Since that post, we’ve heard from more employers that offer this generous perk, including Sixth & I, a synagogue in DC that organizes and hosts well-regarded events featuring writers, musicians, politicians, and other personalities. Summer is a slower season on Sixth & I’s cultural calendar, but not everyone can work a half-day on Friday, because of Shabbat services—so employees have the option of taking their weekly summer half-day on Monday.

While paid half-days off are great, having all of Friday off—paid, no less—is even better. At the McLean office of SnowSports Industries America, staffers work a four-day week, Monday through Thursday, from Memorial Day through Labor Day. “There are no additional hours required during the week—we keep our same schedule, 9 to 5, with an hour off for lunch,” says Debbie DesRoches. We’re guessing summer is also a slow period for this trade association, which represents makers of snow gear such as skis, snowshoes, and winter apparel. 

Many other companies and nonprofits allow employees to take off full or half-days in the summer if they work a compressed week—a benefit very much appreciated by those who get it. For example, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association in Rockville lets its staffers work 75 hours over nine days and take off every tenth. At Discovery Communications in Silver Spring, employees can log nine hours a day Monday through Thursday to leave early on Friday. At Cushman & Wakefield, a commercial real-estate firm in DC, employees are released at 1 on Fridays if they put in two extra hours during the rest of the week.

Does your company offer summer hours or policies? Let us know by dropping an e-mail to sdalphonse@washingtonian.com. For a future post, we’re particularly looking for companies that celebrate summer with such events as ice cream socials, barbecues, and lavish employee picnics.

Sherri Dalphonse

Editor in chief

Sherri Dalphonse joined Washingtonian in 1986 as an editorial intern, and worked her way to the top of the masthead when she was named editor-in-chief in 2022. She oversees the magazine’s editorial staff, and guides the magazine’s stories and direction. She lives in DC.