Pulse January / February 2017 | Page 41

Champagne shows that brief diversions from a task can dramatically improve one ’ s ability to focus on that task for prolonged periods .

“ We often hear from our service providers that it is important for them to have an adequate rest between appointments to rejuvenate ,” says Thompson . “ As such , we encourage our employees to take a few minutes to walk outside and breathe in the sea air . We also encourage therapists to offer each other reciprocal

spa services , which helps them to unwind and de-stress .”

Kolb says spa owners and managers should take a proactive approach toward educating the workforce on the importance of self-care so they can function at a high level . “ If you do see someone is struggling ( I call it the ‘ deer in the headlights syndrome ’), give them a mental time out . Be flexible in allowing them personal time to take care of themselves so they can come back refreshed and ready to go ,” she says . “ If you are seeing a stressed employee , offer to help them prioritize so everyone is working smarter , not harder . It is a good return on your investment of time if you do .”

AVOIDING INJURY Creating an injury-free and healthy work environment means providing your staff the proper training so they can perform their job correctly without injury . Many spa jobs are physically demanding , and proper training will alleviate the risk for work-related injury . It ’ s also important to provide staff the proper medical benefits and access to wellness programs that may help reduce their risks of injury .

— JEAN KOLB , Owner , Jean Kolb Well By Choice , LLC

“ We encourage our franchisees to offer benefits such as regular massages for all employees at a reduced cost and reimbursement for health and fitness clubs , health and fitness events , and chiropractic care ,” Evans says .

By providing the right tools , such as ergonomic equipment , work-related injuries can also be reduced . “ In our Massage Heights retreats , we provide hydraulic tables that are adjustable to the therapist and to the client , which make it easier on a therapist while performing services . In addition , the flooring we use has extra cushion to help mitigate job-related aches and pains , as well as fatigue ,” she says .

She says it ’ s also important that managers have an honest conversation with therapists to help identify their limitations , such as the number of hours of massage treatments they can do in a day . She also recommends providing therapists access to self-care products to use during their breaks .

In addition , Griffith says offering incentives to employees who choose to live a healthy lifestyle helps motivate them . “ We have paid bonuses to employees who quit smoking . We are happy to currently have no employees who smoke ,” he says .

Unfortunately , even if you take all the preventative measures possible , accidents can happen . If a member of your staff is injured at work , be sure to take all the necessary legal steps your company requires . “ First , make sure the staff member has proper medical attention and is supported in following medical advice ,” says Griffith . “ Second , identify the cause of the injury . Third , take steps to prevent it in the future , which may require better training , repairing equipment , providing safety equipment or removing obstacles .”

Whatever practices or tools you have in place , be sure to put safety and employee well-being top priority as it has a direct impact on employee morale , productivity and , ultimately , company profitability . n

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