In winter, the temperature in the shop is sometimes only 13 degrees. We don't turn the heating up fully because cut flowers prefer cooler temperatures. Our hands are often in cold water, which causes them to crack easily. We share tips for hand care with each other – in addition to professional skin protection products, I use an old home remedy: rubbing butter into my hands and then washing them with soap.

Good shoes and warm clothing are crucial. When it comes to shoes, we look for a good sole with tread and a footbed that supports the foot. I myself wear medical insoles and notice the difference in my knees. In the break room, we have shoes to change into, jackets and wrist warmers ready. I have bought warm fleece jackets for my whole team so that there is always a warm and comfortable jacket available in the shop. When someone applies for a job with me, I tell them straight away to bring several layers of clothing with them.

We stand all day and often bend our necks downwards. As our florists are of different heights but share a table, we use table risers. This allows each colleague to adjust their work surface and work optimally. In addition, exercise and targeted muscle building are important. This helps prevent problems caused by uneven strain and the frequent forward-bent neck posture when tying bouquets.

When I notice that an employee is not taking a break, I tell her to take one now. Sometimes I have to play the boss. Sitting down, taking off their shoes, eating a warm meal and going outside to clear their head – this makes the employees much more present after their break. After a particularly busy day, I sometimes send employees home early or let them start later the next day.

As the boss, the mental health of my employees is also very important to me. This starts with me saying «thank you» to them often and sincerely for their work and treating them with respect and appreciation.