Have you heard of Summer Fridays? If you're living in New York City you've probably heard the term thrown around, and it can become a big part of your discussions when looking for a new job, so what are they!?
I really did think when I first moved to New York that most things about work were the same, except that some people seemed to find joy in working 300 hours a week (which is still truly baffling to me).
I like work as much as the next guy (especially when I get to write articles for you nice folk) but I do also like some time off to rest, recuperate, and find myself a nice new rooftop to sit and soak in the vitamin D.
Casual Fridays exit stage left. Enter Summer Fridays.
More than half of North American employers (55%) will allow employees to skip out early or take the whole day off on Fridays this summer
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Employers basically offer partial or half days (and allegedly some offer whole days off but I'm yet to meet someone who gets that) on Fridays throughout the summer months so you can get outside and enjoy life outside of work.
It's a magical time for getting errands done and potentially going out in the daytime, a commodity in the winter months. It also potentially allows some travel time for a weekend away to go hiking, or maybe to find a beach somewhere.
It's not the only thing to consider when looking for a new job, but it's definitely part of the discussion as an added perk!
Things to be wary of when it comes to New York City summer Fridays
It sounds like a dream, but be sure to consider a few things before you sign on the dotted line at your new job because they offer Summer Fridays:
Make sure there isn't a strict obligation to work over-time to compensate for your new Fridays off (it loses a lot of its charm if you have to work 10 hour days for the rest of the week to cover it);
Ask the question about what exactly happens on Summer Fridays for the staff. Some offices “require” you to stick around at work and enjoy your time there, which (let's be honest) is basically still working unless you love your co-workers;
Find out the dates… Some times employers might consider summer to be 2 Fridays in August and that's it.
To all of you who do get the benefits of a half-day Summer Friday: Enjoy it you lucky ducks.
Josh Pugh is the founder and CEO of America Josh, the largest community for Australians living in the United States — a network of more than 75,000 members across all 50 states, grown in part through the acquisition of the Australians in the USA and Aussies International communities. Originally from South Australia, Josh moved to New York in 2017 and became a US citizen in October 2025 — so the advice he publishes comes from having personally navigated the whole journey, from the E-3 visa to citizenship. Through America Josh he has written hundreds of practical, first-hand guides on moving to and living in the US: visas and immigration, taxes, healthcare, banking, housing and settling into life in New York City. Josh is also President of Variety – the Children's Charity of New York and Founder & CEO of Fortnight Digital. He lives in the New York area with his wife Stacey and their two sons, Danny and Liam.View Author posts
