If you are reading this, chances are you work in the spa, beauty, wellness or fitness worlds. But if you stand back and look at your own workplace, are you walking the talk?
We espouse and sell wellness in a variety of aspects, but we don’t always provide it for ourselves or our colleagues. Of course, we WANT to, we like the idea, but something always gets in the way. Usually, we’re just too busy!
Is There Wellness in Your Workplace?
At our recent Pasadena event, attendees were polled about whether they have workplace wellness initiatives in place at their own spas or offices. Of those polled, about 25% said they had nothing firm in place at the moment. However, the good news is that the other 75% did, in varying degrees. Components mentioned included:
1. Food & Drink: health lunches/picnic lunches/lunch tables outdoors/soup nights & cooking for others/pressed juice/nutrition classes
2. Relaxation: Chair massage/meditation/yoga/recovery pods
3. Activities: Walking/lunch walks/ping pong/time for workouts during the day/pilates/company runs
4. Amenities: Stand-up desk/seating balls/hyper-ice/stretching/swimming pool for employees
These sound easy enough for a business to offer at least one of this selection on a regular basis, and many of them may even be part and parcel of a spa & wellness environment. But what more can be done? And the bigger question, what more SHOULD be done? If we are all working in the wellness industry, isn’t wellness already part of our daily lives? Maybe, but maybe not. Providing wellness for others through our work doesn’t always translate to wellness for ourselves. And as employers of wellness providers, it is certainly integral that we ensure that our teams feel cared for.
What Defines a “Caring” Company?
A fascinating white paper, “Unlocking the Power of Caring,” done by Everyday Health and the Global Wellness Institute found that there are many components, both tangible and intangible, but on the whole, company cultures that build positive relationships amongst the entire workforce were considered caring. Examples of these included opportunities for growth, openness & honesty at work, and encouragement to take time for self. This study also made clear that different age groups consider workplace wellness differently; Gen X & Boomers value onsite recreation and childcare and nutritional counseling, while Millennials want to feel that their work has a positive impact on people’s lives and that the company cares deeply about their personal wellness.
According to a recent Valparaiso University study on workplace wellness, “Health and wellbeing of employees has a direct correlation to organizational performance…Employees with high wellbeing are more engaged, productive and energized and directly affect a company’s bottom line.” Not providing wellness options has a negative effect: the Global Wellness Institute’s study, “The Future of Wellness at Work,” found that world-wide, the cost of unwell workers represented 10-15% of global economic output. In the US alone, the total was estimated at 12% of GDP, or $2.2 trillion per year. So clearly, if we want to demonstrate the positive effects of self-care and wellness, we can likely expect a positive effect on the bottom line.
Beyond the activities listed above, there are numerous other aspects of personal wellbeing that can be explored, such as nutrition & cooking classes, smoking cessation guidance, financial wellness, and even ways to improve sleep quality. None of these options are a “sure thing,” and offering any of the above-mentioned wellness benefits has a cost to it, which is a challenge with thin margins.
But the research certainly emphasizes the fact that investing in employee wellness pays dividends in many ways including an improved bottom line and better employee retention, leading to better client retention and improved customer service. Which leads to happiness, and wellness, for everyone!
About the Author
Lisa Starr is the Principal of Wynne Business Consulting & Education, which specializes in spa, wellness & salon businesses. Lisa has over 30 years of experience in the beauty industry, in all aspects from technician to regional manager. She has spent the last 18 years as a consultant and educator, helping companies maximize spa operations performance in both front and back of the house, and consults on a variety of topics including operations issues, finances & compensation, marketing, inventory management, retailing, human resource development, and business process improvement. Lisa is leading the Grow Well, professional development for We Work Well.
Follow Lisa on Twitter@StarrTalk, on Instagram@WynneBusiness, or email lstarr@wynnebusiness.com
