Is sickness costing your salon money? - poll

Salon owners must care for their staff as well as their clients. And it's not just about being alll touchy feelly and New Age for the sake of being nice - it makes good commercial sense too.

This week I discovered that some £20bn a year is lost by businesses because of staff taking sick leave. 

 The Workplace Health Report from private insurer PruHealth reveals 89% of larger firms and 33% of smaller companies (SMEs) offer health incentives for their employees. Some 55% of senior executives from SMEs said they saw it as their responsibility to foster a heathy culture in the workplace. The survey also asked employees how they felt about their bosses encouraging a healthy culture, with 83% of those questioned stating that an employer's attitude towards health and wellbeing is an important factor when looking for a new role.

Many employers in the hairdressing industry have already embraced the concept of encouraging health and fitness for staff.

Patterson SA, in Edinburgh for one. Says creative director, Jon MacLeod: "We actively promote a healthy lifestyle to our team by organising regular yoga sessions and running clubs.  At PSA we are very conscious of the need to encourage activities that don't involve alcohol, from adventure days to after-work get togethers.  Alcohol weakens the immune system and reduces  natural endorphins. We promote wellbeing within in all our salons, and I believe employees have the duty to guide the younger staff members towards this to create a positive, healthy salon culture."

Fit for Business

Barrie Steven of Barrie Stphen Hair, Leicestershire has long been a supporter of encouraging a healthy workforce, through his Fit for Business scheme, and his dedication has paid off.

Said Barrie:"Sick days are down 30% since I launched Fit For Business so I wholeheartedly believe a fit and healthy team will save your business money.  Reducing sick days can be as simple as helping your team learn about posture, knowing how to stand correctly is vital for us as we spend all day on our feet.  Fit For Business is about putting information and ideas in front of people and giving them the chance to change.  The team are really on-board with this, it's inclusive rather than being instructive and when you get the teams to buy in it really works. The idea is that we'll all become fitter, cut out, or at least down on smoking and generally start thinking healthier - its a win win situation for my team and for me as an employer."

The swine flu revival

Sticking to the subject of health, bosses are being warned to ensure they are prepared for a rise in swine flu cases over the autumn and winter months. The independent Health Protection Agency states that, while cases of the bug had plateaued during the summer, a stronger second wave of the virus was expected during the traditional flu season.

The NHF backs the need to introduce contingency plans incase swine flu does affect salon work forces. Eileen Lawson, secretary general of the NHF also warned salon bosses to ensure they took precautions to avoid infection. "Remember you too could catch swine flu, so put plans in place for people who can take responsibility for the business should you become ill."

So, salon owners,  keep caring for your clinets and staff - but don't neglect yourself!