Back on Track After Summer: How to Get Off to a Strong Start as an Employer This Fall
September 2026 - Summer vacation is gradually coming to an end. Employees are returning, clients are picking up the pace again, and projects are getting back on track. For business owners, September is therefore a good time to refocus the organization. With clear priorities and effective staff scheduling, you can lay the foundation for a strong fall.
During the summer, the normal workflow can easily become fragmented. Employees take time off at different times, decisions are postponed, and certain projects are temporarily put on hold. As you get back into the swing of things, make it clear which projects will take priority in the coming months. What deadlines are set in stone? What does your company still want to accomplish by the end of the year? And just as important: what can wait?
Clear choices also help keep the workload under control. Not everything that seemed important before summer automatically has to be at the top of the agenda again in September.
Review your staffing plan for the fall
Also compare your current staffing levels with the schedule for the coming months. Are you expecting a busy end-of-year period? Are there any open positions that haven’t been filled yet? Are certain employees or teams consistently overburdened?
If you wait until the rush hits to take action, you’ll have little room to maneuver. By looking ahead now, you can still recruit in time, redistribute tasks, or organize temporary support.
Keep an eye on remaining vacation days
September is also a good time to review how many vacation days your employees still need to take. If several employees have accumulated a lot of days, this can cause organizational problems at the end of the year.
Therefore, take stock of how much vacation time is still outstanding and discuss with employees when they’d like to take it. This way, you’ll prevent staffing levels from coming under unexpected pressure in November and December.
Be sure to take into account the rules regarding statutory vacation days. In principle, these must be taken before the end of the vacation year. Unused statutory vacation days can only be carried over in specific situations.
Make time to talk with your employees
A successful restart isn’t just about planning and deadlines. It’s also a good time to check in with your employees to see how they’re doing. This doesn’t have to be a formal performance review. Ask how they’re handling their workload, whether their priorities are clear, and if there are any issues that were left unresolved before the summer. Perhaps they need additional support, a different division of tasks, or training.
By picking up on these signs early, you can make adjustments before small problems escalate during a busy fall.
Look Beyond the Year-End Deadline
In many companies, the fall is primarily dominated by targets and deadlines. Still, it’s worth taking the time to revisit your employees’ goals and development as well. Are the goals you set at the beginning of the year still realistic? What skills are missing within the team? And what training opportunities can employees take advantage of in the coming months?
Don’t wait until the annual performance review in December to address these issues. In September, you still have plenty of time to make adjustments and ensure that both your company and your employees can end the year on a strong note.
