While many businesses are searching for ways to save money during the post-holiday slump, one Timmins employer is using this downtime to boost employee morale.
Julie Therrien, Owner of Restaurant Nadeau in Timmins, recently took her entire staff to Mexico for a week.
Therrien and seven other women who work for her all flew down to Cancun Riviera Maya, a 4.5 star resort according to Trip Advisor. They departed on Jan. 9 and returned on Jan. 17.
“I looked at the budget from the past few years and January is my lowest month,” says Therrien. “So, I set a week aside for vacation.”
Therrien says that while she has been running the company for only about three years, all of the employees have worked there for ten or more years.
“I got lucky with a great group of employees,” says Therrien.
The inspiration for the trip came more than a year ago.
“At last year’s company Christmas party, they were talking about how much they all want to travel but they find it hard to save money,” says Therrien. “I offered to set aside a little bit of their pay checks so we could all take a trip together the following year.”
All seven of her employees thought it was a great idea, so Therrien booked the trip and covered the up front expenses on their behalf.
“It was great because it was guaranteed,” says Therrien. “Everyone was really motivated and pumped, excited for something coming. The year went by really fast.”
Therrien deducted $75 every two weeks for a year, which amounts to about $2000 per employee.
Chantal Dubeau was one of the employees who went on the trip.
“For me taking the money from my pay was the best way to do it,” Dubeau says. “It didn’t really affect my budget and it made the excitement real.”
Amanda Bourgon was the only employee who decided to save the money on her own instead of having it deducted from her pay.
“I prefer to see my savings in front of me,” says Bourgon.
Bourgon says the trip helped build a stronger team atmosphere at Restaurant Nadeau.
“The group vacation absolutely brought us closer,” says Bourgon. “We all have been working there for years, but it’s been great getting to know each other on a different level.”
Dubeau hopes she will have more opportunities to travel with her co-workers.
“To me, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity and it was absolutely amazing,” says Dubeau. “I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Dubeau just might get her wish. Therrien says the trip was such a success that they just might make it a bi-annual event.
“I close once a year for renovations,” says Therrien. “Why not take a vacation together while everyone is off anyway?”
While they were gone, minor renovations were completed at Restaurant Nadeau, including fresh paint and new kitchen flooring.
“Now customers are coming in and commenting,” says Therrien. “It has been super good for us and for the business all around.”
Dubeau says the trip had a positive effect on her overall outlook at work.
“I do feel stronger about the business,” says Dubeau. “To me, it’s not a business, it’s a family.”
