Each autumn solstice comes the inevitable start of respiratory disease season, which includes influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. The 2023-2024 flu season was moderately severe according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) beginning in early November and hitting its peak in mid-December of 2023 with hospitalization rates of about 8.9 per 100,000. In 2024-2025, the CDC expects a similar overall respiratory disease season with moderate confidence.
Respiratory disease season can wreak havoc on any business. Service-oriented businesses like salons and spas, however, are at a higher risk of spreading and contracting illnesses which can impact the business’ bottom line. Salon and spa pros are also in closer quarters with clients than your average business, adding to the risk factors. However, there are precautions salon and spa owners can take to limit the spread of the flu and other respiratory diseases.
- Reinforce hygiene protocols: Regular hygiene and sanitation habits are likely already commonplace in your salons or spa. During respiratory disease season, it’s always a good idea to remind workers of the importance of these protocols. Employees should be fully trained on and held accountable for their cleaning responsibilities to ensure they are aware of how to effectively sanitize stations between appointments or maintaining front desk stations.
- Be supportive: Both clients and team members can feel pressure to attend their appointments or shifts, even when they are ill. Consider implementing “stay home” policies within your salon or spa for employees and clients. These policies should be codified in your employee handbook as well as on your booking page for clients. Most importantly, be sure employees and clients know about such policies and that you support their health needs.
- Stay up to date: Because cases of the flu and other respiratory illnesses spike at different times each year, it is difficult to predict the start of respiratory disease season. As such, salon and spa owners should stay up to date on any spikes in respiratory illness trends to communicate with their staff and take precautions. The CDC offers regular updates on respiratory diseases through their website in areas such as its Weekly US Map: Influenza Summary Update. This information can help salon and spa owners limit the impact respiratory disease season can have on their businesses.
Supporting clients through respiratory illness season
Clients who are recovering from an illness may come to a salon or spa to refresh after their symptoms subside. Salon and spa professionals should be prepared to answer client questions and provide insight that can help them relax such as:
- Services: Depending on what illness a client is recovering from, different services can help them in the process. Massages, for example, can help relieve tension and stiffness in the body from fever chills, while a flu facial can help alleviate congestion and skin dehydration. Take the time to speak with clients about what they are experiencing and how your expertise and services might help them bounce back more quickly.
- Take home tips: Another way salon and spa professionals can demonstrate their value during respiratory disease season is to offer take-home tips that can help them recover and go beyond your in-salon or spa services. Tips like hot baths with essential oils or using warm compresses to relieve swelling and congestion show clients that your team cares about more than making a sale, but rather deepening the client relationship.
Current trends show respiratory disease season is imminent. Take time to evaluate your salon or spa’s hygiene and stay home policies and begin speaking to your staff about their responsibilities. Taking a proactive approach to the season will be a crucial line of defense as the risks of a client or team member falling ill becomes more imminent.
Kathy Lopez, Account Manager for SASSI, the Salon and Spa Specialty Insurance program at Brownyard Group. She can be reached at klopez@brownyard.com.
