5 ways nail salon owners can support employee wellbeing

Scratch explores ways that salon owners can look after their employees’ physical and mental wellbeing…

1. Eat well & stay hydrated

It can be difficult to know how you can ensure your employees are eating well and staying hydrated without coming across as patronising. However there are a few ways you can help with this:

• Provide a fruit bowl/healthy snacks in the staff area which employees are allowed to help themselves to.
• Encourage regular food & drink breaks, with water stations available in the salon.
• Have your team send around their favourite healthy recipes for you all to try, this could also be a team bonding activity.

2. Stay active

Exercise has many benefits. According to the NHS, it can boost self-esteem, mood and sleep quality, as well as reducing your risk of stress and depression. While working at a nail desk is not very mobile, here are some ideas on how to keep your team active:

• Ensure your staff members take their full lunch break and encourage them to go out for a walk during their break.
• Create a staff sports team, where you meet regularly to play a team sport.
• Support each other with Couch to 5k– you could create a group chat and all follow the programme together as a form of exercise and team bonding.

3. Show your appreciation

Feeling valued and appreciated is an important motivator for a team and can help boost morale. A small gesture lets your employees know that their ongoing efforts at work are noticed and appreciated. Whether it’s a surprise delivery in the post, or a voucher so they can treat themselves to a little something, a little something to reward your employees for their hard work can go a long way.

4. Socialising

With lockdown restrictions meaning people have had very little social interaction over the last year, many people are wanting to catch up on the social interaction they’ve missed. Whether that’s organising a bowling night or going for drinks after work, social interaction is important for team bonding and to help your staff feel less lonely if they are struggling.

Make sure throughout the day you’re still spending time talking to your team and not just about work. Having a quick chat about normal life and checking in between clients can go a long way in helping your employee’s wellbeing.

5. Peer support

Often, for no reason, people find it easier to speak to someone who isn’t their manager. Peer support allows colleagues to support one another outside of the in house management structure and provides a great way for your junior nail technicians to learn from the more senior members of staff, helping their wellbeing and their skillset. Mentoring and buddy schemes can help new staff to understand the way the salon works faster and can support all staff to gain confidence and develop their skills as a nail technician.

For more information on supported stressed employees in the salon, click here.