Magazine for the professional nail industry.
Issue link: http://nailsmag.epubxp.com/i/224814
INBOX Just My Opinion: Nail Techs Deserve Employee Benefits Including Healthcare, Paid Vacation, and 401(k)s Hard work and reward should go hand-inhand. And there is no denying that the women and men who serve as nail techs in this country work hard and put in long hours. It's time, as an industry, that we step up to the plate and begin rewarding them for their service. It's time for the nail industry to take a good hard Thirwall look at employee benefits. After all, we are in an industry that focuses on care. We take extreme pride in the care of our clients. But what about our employees? While most of the industry is focused on competing on price, MiniLuxe focuses on hygiene, quality, and client service. As such, we felt it made sense for us to start with our own internal team (we call them "brand ambassadors"). We want to provide our employees a true career — in an industry that is growing, fair, and rewards them for their hard work. At MiniLuxe we discuss our benefits during the interview process. But when hired, our newest techs are still often pleasantly surprised. Many assumed they wouldn't qualify — some thought these benefits would require months of service before eligibility kicked in, while others thought these benefits only applied to 50 | NAILS MAGAZINE | management positions. Most simply thought the benefits were hiring bait. In MiniLuxe's case, however, we offer all full-time employees, regardless of title, the ability to have medical and dental insurance, paid vacation, 401(k), and flexible spending accounts. This is simply the right thing to do. While no industry can ever tout "zero turnover", we find that by offering and implementing a solid benefits package for our brand ambassadors, they stay with us longer than the industry norm. There's no question that benefits make an employee feel wanted, respected, and cared for. This is key toward employee retention. We also provide our brand ambassadors with all the tools they need to do their jobs, such as implements and nail products. At MiniLuxe we have a mantra: We want to make it possible for you to look good, feel great, and take care of yourself as well as your family. We apply this to our clients and to our staff. Although a benefits package may affect our (or your) company's bottom line, we believe this is what a responsible, caring employer should do. Our goal is to "Starbucks" the nails and waxing business by opening locations nationwide — and having happy, cared-for brand ambassadors is a key step in the process. www.nailsmag.com/fifi/11265 JANUARY 2014 Sue Thirlwall CEO, MiniLuxe (www.miniluxe.com)