Why Those $100 Yoga Pants Are Worth the Price
My life as a writer, podcaster, public speaker, and event coordinator is steady, yet inconsistent. I have to make ends meet between gigs and I still need to have quality health insurance. Like most creatives, I have a day job. Unlike most creatives, my day job at lululemon goes above and beyond to ensure that work is a positive, healthy, balanced experience. My therapist often refers to this job as “my one constant among an ever-changing career in the arts”.
I’ve worked at lululemon on and off since 2014. This job helped me figure out my priorities in life, develop the courage to move to New York City to pursue writing, and consistently gives me support to grow as a person. I know what you’re thinking. How can selling high-end yoga pants help you with all of those things?!? A short answer: they invest in their employees’ mental and physical well being.
Working at a lululemon cheer station in 2014 as my aunt runs by
(The Woodlands, Texas)
They pay for our workouts. We have a 401k, stock options, health care savings accounts, and a pre-tax transit benefit. Anyone who works at least 24 hours a week is eligible for top-notch health insurance. In 2018, they were ranked #6 on Glassdoor‘s top places to work. Last year, they launched one of the most inclusive, progressive forms of parental leave.
We have access to all of those incredible benefits while working among a supportive team of colleagues. Most of the lemons (that’s what we call our co-workers) in New York City are artists or creatives of some sort. There’s a common understanding that we all help each other out when someone has an audition or an interview or speaking opportunity or anything in that realm. My co-workers are also very supportive of my sobriety. Plus, lululemon has two NYC event spaces where I host my recovery-themed reading series.
Meditating at an in-store event
(SoHo, Manhattan)
OK…this is starting to sound like a sponsored blog post and I promise it’s not. This post was inspired by how they’ve taken care of us during this unprecedented global pandemic. Our stores closed on March 16th making sure all employees were paid in full for two weeks. Then that extended to three weeks. Then six weeks. And as of today, they are committed to extending pay protection through June 1st. That’s a total of 11 weeks paid whether stores are open or closed. In order to make this happen, the senior leadership team (including the CEO!) has volunteered to take a 20% pay cut on their salaries for the next 3 months. The Board of Directors will forgo compensation during this period as well. While I knew I worked for a great company, their continuous support never ceases to amaze me.
It’s not just employees who are psyched about how this company treats the staff.
“I no longer feel guilty about spending $100 on yoga pants! I am proud to support a company that is doing the right thing.”
- Lisa Smith, author, podcaster, lawyer, and avid fan of Align Pants
“I already loved lululemon, but the way they treat their employees makes me even more loyal. I like that my yoga wear is helping people receive pay and benefits during a difficult time.”
Tracey Stubbs, blogger and fangirl for On The Fly Pants
Just another plandid in front of the men’s store (RIP) in 2017
(SoHo, Manhattan)
lululemon clothes and accessories are still available for purchase online (Don’t worry, the employees at the distribution center are practicing safe distancing!). They also provide complimentary workouts, yoga, and meditations since studios and gyms are closed. On that note, they’ve also launched a grant program for store ambassadors who own studios and have lost income during this crisis.
This job has been there for me in many ways (and through many different hair colors!). Providing job security during the Coronavirus pandemic is just another example of how great it is to work for lululemon. A steady paycheck without risk of losing my health insurance helps me stay relatively sane through all of this madness - w
Tawny is an NYC-based writer, public speaker, and event producer who’s passionate about smashing stigmas associated with both sexuality and sobriety. Ruby Warrington dubbed Tawny “The Sober Sexpert”. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter.
Read Tawny’s published words in Playboy, Men’s Health, Huffington Post, The Temper, Audiofemme, SheSaid, Recovery Campus, WorkIt Health, and NY Yoga & Life Magazine. Tawny shared her recovery story on stages all across the world: IOGT World Congress, New York State Recovery Conference, United Federation of Teachers, and more.
In addition to writing and public speaking, she’s the founder of the Readings on Recovery™ reading series and SobrieTea Party™ and co-host of Recovery Rocks podcast with Lisa Smith. She’s also a charity volunteer with Road Recovery and an award-winning filmmaker of the recovery documentary, Fixed Up.
