Summer brings sunshine, time off, and an unexpected drop in employee engagement. As Q2 wraps up and fatigue sets in, organizations face a tough challenge: how to keep employees focused and motivated. Reinforce your current value during critical moments, without needing a brand-new program.

As mid-year hits, many organizations experience the same quiet drag: projects lose momentum, performance plateaus, and even top performers start looking elsewhere. It’s subtle at first, but if left unchecked, it can lead to disengagement and costly turnover.

But with the right nudge, this moment can become a spark. When employees are reminded of the value they already have and know how to access it easily, they’re far more likely to stay focused, motivated, and connected.

Let’s walk through three ways your Total Rewards strategy can re-light the fire.

1. Reset and Recharge: Help Employees Actually Use Their Time Off

One of the simplest and most powerful ways to address burnout is to encourage people to actually take the time off they’ve earned. Employees often hold back, unsure how much time they have, whether it’s okay to use it, or how it might affect their team.

Use your Total Rewards Portal to drive meaningful action. 

  • Featuring a Quick Insight that links directly to their PTO summary in the HR system
  • Highlighting “Time Off” or “Wellbeing” in the Additional Benefits section
  • Using customized, seasonal messaging to normalize rest. Highlighting mental health days or no-meeting weeks.
  • Reinforcing the idea that taking a break is part of the reward.

When people are prompted with the right message at the right time, they’re more likely to step away and come back renewed. It’s not just about offering time off. It’s about reminding them to use it.

2. Growth Nudges: Spark Career Momentum

Another major contributor to mid-year disengagement? Feeling stuck.

Progress drives engagement. Without it, even well-paid employees can start to disengage.

That’s why summer is the perfect time to:

  • Promote internal roles or new projects.
  • Offer short-term learning stipends or certifications.
  • Spotlight development tools already available.

Even better, make these visible in your Total Rewards Portal so employees associate growth with the full value of being part of your company. When people feel seen, supported, and challenged, they don’t just stay- they thrive.

3. Make the Invisible Visible: Year-to-Date Value at a Glance

Employees rarely remember their full rewards picture, especially in July. But when compensation, benefits, wellbeing, and future value are presented in one clear and visual dashboard, it creates a meaningful shift in how they see their value.

A modern Total Rewards platform turns scattered value into a unified story. And when that story is personal, accessible, and easy to understand, it builds trust, pride, and stay intent.

In fact, Salary Finance did a study that found 73% of employees are more likely to stay when wellbeing support is visible, and Gallup reports that high-quality recognition can cut turnover risk by 45%.

Your people don’t need more. They need better visibility.

Bring It to Life with HRSoft

HRSoft’s Total Rewards Portal is designed for moments just like this. You can:

  • Deliver real-time compensation and benefit insights.
  • Share seasonal messaging tied to wellbeing and performance.
  • Link out to PTO summaries or career development tools.
  • Reinforce value without launching a brand-new program.

Mid-year doesn’t have to mean mid-engagement. With the right strategy, your Total Rewards experience can bring the energy back. 

Take a short self-guided tour of our Total Rewards Communication platform to learn how HRSoft can help you turn the slump into a spark.