In the Silicon Valley, “cutting” benefits makes workers happy. Why? Well, these bennies are for hair care—not health care—and they are on-site!
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According to MarketWatch, tech companies including Google, Yahoo, Genetech, and Nvidia are offering salon services in the workplace to their busy employees. And, of course, the services are often delivered in a high-tech way—in vans retrofitted as salons that roll right up to the workplace.
The article reports that while the hair services aren’t free, they are often subsidized. A Genetech spokesperson told writer Catey Hill, “We do it because we want to deliver convenience for employees.”
Interestingly, most employees taking advantage of the benefit are men. Emily Harris, owner of one of the benefit providers, Onsite Haircuts, told MarketWatch that 70 percent of its services are given to males, “who view getting their hair cut as a chore.” Harris explains that while men don’t want to spend a lot of time getting a haircut, they do want it to look good.
Men usually request trims or “buzz cuts,” as well as beard trims, said Harris. The company website notes that services popular with women include haircuts, bang cuts, and blowouts. No coloring or perms are available due to time constraints.
MarketWatch explains that the benefit procedure typically involves employees scheduling services online, although walk-ins can usually be accommodated. And because work obligations can change due to rescheduled meetings or sudden crises, there is no charge for appointment cancellations.
The on-site haircare benefit is currently offered by only 1 percent of employers in the U.S., says MarketWatch, quoting recent survey information by the Society for Human Resources Management.