5 ways to promote team wellbeing this month

Nurture employees & navigate the festive rush mindfully with REBECCA HITCHON’S roundup of tips for taking care of your team

Christmas might be known as ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ for many, but for nail and beauty salon teams, fully booked schedules and potentially longer working hours can take a toll. When demand and pressure are high, it’s easy to overlook wellbeing – however, this is when it matters most.

Keep team spirits high over the festive season by exploring expert insight on the importance of mental and physical wellness, and top tips to avoid low morale and burnout.

Sara Pinto

Why wellbeing shouldn’t be overlooked

“The festive rush can turn what should be a joyful time into one filled with stress and exhaustion, and when pros are tired or overwhelmed, creativity, patience and precision can decline,” says Sara Pinto, nail product & academy director at Andreia Professional.

Kate Driscoll

Kate Driscoll, owner of Kate Lifestyle, Essex: Scratch Stars Nail & Beauty Salon of the Year 2025, agrees. She tells Scratch: “Wellbeing is essential to maintain both quality and consistency in services. When techs prioritise their physical and mental health, they stay creative, focused and positive.”

Susan Nguyen

“Technician wellbeing directly impacts the client experience: poor wellbeing equals a negative experience,” adds Susan Nguyen, founder & managing director of The Nail Group, London: Scratch Stars Nail Salon of the Year 2025. “If unmanaged, stress and exhaustion can cause burnout and injury risk.”

“Remind your team that rest isn’t a reward; it’s essential.”

Larissa Hodgins

1Rest & recuperation

During the busiest period of the year, it may feel like there isn’t enough time to take sufficient breaks and recover from demanding shifts. However, organisation is key to ensuring you and your team not only rest, but enjoy festivities.

“Your employee rota should be planned smartly,” notes Sara Pinto. “Even during the busiest days, schedule short breaks between appointments so that staff can stretch, hydrate and reset. This will positively impact energy and focus. Also ensure that the rota allows for personal time.”

It’s worth remembering the UK Government’s guidelines for work breaks. On its website, it details that ‘workers have the right to 11 hours rest between working days’, as well as ‘the right to one uninterrupted 20-minute rest break during their working day, if they work more than six hours per day’.

“We don’t extend our opening hours over the festive season, and we ensure rest breaks are protected,” shares Susan Nguyen. “What has been game-changing for The Nail Group is our ‘New Year Reset Week’. We close the salon for a week in early January, allowing the entire team to collectively recover from the Christmas rush.”

“Supporting staff isn’t just the right thing to do; it protects businesses by retaining talent and maintaining standards.”

Lesley Blair MBE, CEO & chair of the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC)

2 Team check-ins

While many of the strategies mentioned in this article serve to alleviate stress, team members are likely to experience overwhelm at some point during the festive season – and it’s vital that they receive support.

“The feeling amongst a salon team often starts with its leader, so set the tone by checking in with team members regularly: not just about performance, but how they’re feeling,” recommends Larissa Hodgins, people program manager at salon software company, Phorest. “Encourage open conversations about workload and mental health, and make sure that staff know it’s OK to ask for help.”

Larissa Hodgins

Khristie Lawton

“I recommend daily team check-ins, where staff are encouraged to share if they’re feeling overwhelmed,” says Khristie Lawton, educator for The Nail Hub (The Nail Lab’s education branch) & owner of Doncaster salon, Kiki Yorkshire. “A quick ‘how are you really doing?’ goes a long way.”

3 Physical pointers

Physical health is a significant but often overlooked part of wellbeing, so ensure you and your team are caring for your bodies and fuelling them with nourishment.

“Make sure employees are conscious of their posture, stretch between clients, and eat nutritious meals,” says Khristie Lawton. “I advise encouraging staff to prepare meals at the beginning of their working weeks, so these are ready for them when they are tired at the end of each day.”

“Sugary snacks and caffeine-filled drinks may be convenient, but balanced meals and plenty of water sustain performance throughout long days,” adds Sara Pinto. “Encourage your team to prepare healthy snacks and share lunch breaks together. This builds connections as well as energy.”

4 Festive fun

While clients immerse in the fun that the festive season has to offer, it’s important that salon teams don’t feel like they’re missing out. Whether through in-salon activities, such as decorating the space together or enjoying a Christmas party, high energy and positive vibes will make challenging days easier to cope with.

“We actively keep the salon atmosphere fun – not frantic – via Christmas music, games with clients and seasonal snacks,” says Susan Nguyen. “When clients and the team share a joyful energy, high pressure feels more manageable. We also hold an end-of-season celebration party, to publicly acknowledge the individual efforts and teamwork that powered us through the rush. This strengthens the team’s collective bond for the year ahead.”

“To bring fun and purpose to your salon environment, you could introduce creative nail art challenges, charitable initiatives and social media activities featuring the team,” suggests Sara Pinto. “This boosts staff connection and motivation.”

“When clients and the team share a joyful energy, high pressure feels more manageable.”

Susan Nguyen

5 Gestures & gratitude

While it’s easy to get caught up in the festive rush, remember to show appreciation to the staff that are supporting your business through it. Khristie Lawson says: “When staff feel appreciated and supported, morale stays high – even during the busiest times.”

A recent study by greeting cards business, Moonpig, proves this, with 53% of surveyed employees saying that lack of recognition at work impacts their motivation. Almost 60% shared that they would consider leaving a job if their hard work went unnoticed. The research found that the most appreciated forms of recognition include a financial reward, private ‘thank you’ from a manager and thoughtful card or note.

Kate Driscoll tells Scratch that a focus for her team is celebrating small business wins. “Whether this is completing a busy day or receiving positive client feedback, the Kate Lifestyle team always takes a moment to acknowledge it,” she says. The Nail Group has a similar ethos, with Susan Nguyen sharing that her team carries out a ‘daily dose of joy’. “We start every day with a motivating team huddle where we celebrate the little wins,” she explains.

“The festive rush can turn what should be a joyful time into one filled with stress and exhaustion, and when pros are tired or overwhelmed, creativity, patience and precision can decline.”

Sara Pinto

Sickness suggestions

The Keep Britain Working Review, published last month, revealed that UK employers lose £85 billion per year from sickness, turnover and lost productivity. Its author, Sir Charlie Mayfield, shared: “Employers are uniquely placed to make a difference, preventing health issues where possible, supporting people when problems arise and helping them return to work.”

“Kate Lifestyle approaches sickness with understanding and flexibility,” says Kate Driscoll. “Health always comes first, so we never expect anyone to work while unwell. If a staff member was ill during the festive season, their schedule would be adjusted and bookings redistributed fairly. We would also make a point of showing appreciation for any extra effort from the team, so everyone feels valued.”

“In this scenario, our priority is to manage the situation efficiently while minimising the impact on the rest of the team,” adds Susan Nguyen. “Communication with clients is key, and we would inform them of any necessary appointment adjustments to manage expectations.”

“Wellbeing is essential to maintain both quality and consistency in services. When techs prioritise their physical and mental health, they stay creative, focused and positive.”

Kate Driscoll