Loss can happen to anyone, which is why it’s important you implement a salon bereavement policy. There may come a time when member of the team is reeling from the loss of a family member or friend, and it’s vital you’re there to support them. To help, we’ve put together key areas to include in a bereavement policy in the salon or spa.
Include compassionate leave in your salon bereavement policy
It will often take time for someone to recover from the loss of a loved one. That’s why you should include some kind of paid or unpaid compassionate leave as part of your salon bereavement policy. The Sue Ryder organisation recommends 3-5 days for the loss of an immediate family member, which is typical for many businesses. You can drop this to 2-3 days for relationships that are less close, but still impactful.
Something else to keep in mind is if a parent loses a child under the age of 18 (or a stillbirth from 24 weeks of pregnancy), parents will be eligible for two weeks’ paid leave. Whilst it’s up to you on how long your bereavement leave is otherwise, and if you will pay staff during compassionate leave, it’s vital that this information is clear in your policy.
Outline and discuss contact preferences with the bereaved
It’s understandable you’d want to stay in contact with staff facing bereavement, especially as this is one of our five powerful benefits of social engagement for stress relief. On one hand, this is a wonderful way to show your support and that you’re thinking of them, but on the other, it might not help them break away thoughts of work.
As different people will have different preferences, outline your default contact practice in your salon bereavement policy but also make sure to discuss this with your staff. This conversation will also clarify if they are okay with sharing the details with the rest of the team at this stage, in addition to when they plan to return.
Include rescheduling conditions in your salon bereavement policy
It may sound daft, but it’s important you mention what will happen to any bookings the bereaved staff member has. Will these be rescheduled amongst the team and how will the clients be contacted? Making sure your salon bereavement policy includes a short section on this will help make sure your staff are all on the same page and avoids potential arguments amongst the team. This also helps avoid any additional disruption to those clients, particularly if you alert them via email or SMS.
Detail what will happen once staff return to the salon or spa
Once the bereaved return to your salon or spa, they may put on a brave face… but they will still be hurting inside. So, your salon bereavement policy should outline what will happen during the first few weeks back, at the least. For example, you might want to outline you will have regular catch-ups to check-in with how they’re doing and help to safely identify and manage stress in the workplace that could make things worse. In the longer-term, particular the first year, there are anniversary events that the bereaved may find difficult. It’s worth keeping these in mind and be patience with your team.
Outline Bereavement Support Payment for immediate family
It’s important you point staff to external help if they need it, too. For example, Bereavement Support Payment can offer staff additional payment if they have lost their husband, wife or civil partner within 21 months. This is usually a one-off payment by the UK government (£2,500 if you don’t have children, or £3,500 with children under 20), followed by 18 monthly payments (£100 without children, £350 with children). Your salon bereavement policy should outline details such as these and the Funeral Expenses Payment should staff need further assistance, particularly as they help them from a financial standpoint.
Once you have written up a bereavement policy, Salon by Premier Software® can help with its implementation. Whether it’s handling the rescheduling of clients, staff rotas, internal meetings for the bereaved or anything else, Salon can help manage the day-to-day of your business. To find out how Salon can help, click the button below.
