“We often hear from our therapists that it is
important for them to have some downtime in
between appointments.”
— JACQUEE THOMPSON
landing an important new account. This
keeps the employee engaged and they
are able to share in the excitement and
positivity,” he says.
Encouraging staff members to take
stress breaks, even if that means a quick
minute or two, are necessary means to
prevent burnout. “We are fortunate
enough to be located directly on a
gorgeous beach. I even remind myself
sometimes to take a few minutes to walk
outside and remember to take advantage
of the beautiful place where I work.
Sometimes, that quick reality check is all
it takes to decompress,” Thompson says.
Team Support
Mearns says team support is a critical
component to helping a burned-out
employee. “Remind the staff that every
day at the spa requires a team effort.
The number one responsibility any staff
member has is to wave the white flag
when he or she needs help! A manager
will quickly come to the rescue and
alleviate the tension, a precursor to
burnout,” she says.
Mearns further recalled that, as a
previous spa manager, there had been
times in the past when she had
witnessed an employee’s stress levels
elevate. “I stepped in and required the
employee to do a lap or two outside the
spa in order to take a deep breath,
realize the issue is not that big in the
scheme of things and return refreshed,”
she recalls.
Williams says, amidst the daily grind,
it’s easy for employees to forget the spa’s
mission and values, leaving them to
ALLEVIATING STRESS
After recognizing that an employee is burned out at
work, what can spa directors and owners do to help
alleviate any work-related stress? Thompson offers
the following tips:
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Engage associates in the development of schedules
and rotations.
Anticipate workload and proactive distribution of shifts.
Add additional