Workers increasingly judge their employers by how they treat their staff. In a national survey by the American Psychological Association, 92% said it matters to them to work for an organization that values their emotional and psychological wellbeing.
That shift is changing how employers think about the end of the year season The Big Box gift card and once-a-year party are giving way to something people actually feel the benefit of.
“Many beauty professionals are tired and physically burned out by December,” says Heather Hughes, co-founder of The Balanced Beauty Pro, which helps professionals undo the physical toll of demanding beauty work through somatic movement.
“A party is over by midnight. Teaching someone how to take care of their body is something they keep for life.”
There is a bottom-line case for employers being more thoughtful, too. A Harvard analysis of workplace wellness programs found that medical costs fell about $3.27 for every dollar spent, while absenteeism costs fell about $2.73 for every dollar. At a time when nearly half of American workers tell Gallup they feel stressed at work every day, a gift that genuinely supports their wellbeing does more than spread holiday cheer. It protects a company’s most valuable asset – its people.
Hairdressers, beauty and esthetics experts often experience work-related musculoskeletal pain, one of the most common reasons people leave their trade for good. Giving them a tool that can help prevent this from happening is a meaningful investment in their wellbeing and future. This is where The Balanced Beauty Pro comes in. End-of-year group wellness packages gives salon and spa owners an opportunity to nourish the wellbeing of their teams all year round.
“You can give someone a voucher or a night out. Or, you can give them the opportunity to learn new skills to prevent physical burnout,” Hughes said. “One gets spent or forgotten. The other changes how they feel at work every single day.”
The holiday party will always have its place. But as the numbers keep moving, the smartest employers this year may be the ones asking a different question. Not how do we celebrate the year, but how do we help our people recover from it.