employer cover photo
employer logo
employer logo

Sally Salon Services

Engaged Employer

Toxic from the Top Down – Run, Don’t Walk, Away from This Company - Store Manager Sally Salon Services Employee Review

1.0
Aug 5, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Watching strong, capable people leave this place for better things confirms you're not crazy for wanting out.

Cons

Sally Salon Services is the epitome of dysfunction. If you're looking for a career in retail or beauty, avoid this place like the plague — it will crush your motivation, waste your time, and insult your intelligence. Sally Salon Services is the definition of a business in freefall — outdated, toxic, and completely out of touch with both its staff and its customers. The culture is poisoned from the top, with management more concerned about appearances and petty power trips than actual performance. It’s a place where incompetence is rewarded, and any hint of ambition or new thinking is treated as a threat. Operations are laughably backward. Processes are stuck in the past, and technology is non-existent unless you count the printer from 1998 that’s somehow still going (barely). While competitors innovate, Sally clings to broken systems and expects miracles from demoralised teams running on fumes. The culture is not just toxic — it’s deliberately toxic. There is zero real leadership The store environments are genuinely depressing — neglected, filthy, and constantly short-staffed. Staff morale is in the gutter, but who can blame them when they’re paid peanuts to do the jobs of three people, all while being patronised by a senior management team that hasn’t set foot in a functioning store in years. Or when they do, see it as ‘playing shop’ - insulting and belittling behaviour. The south is more concerned with becoming friends than with the health of the business. Who has no interest in developing people, fixing problems, or listening to feedback. Worse still, actively undermines capable employees — especially those who show initiative or challenge the broken status quo. A walking cliché of vanity and distraction. No leadership, no accountability — just surface-level nonsense and constant deflection. If you're expecting support, forget it - you’ll just be put on a PIP and a replacement found. If you want to survive, forget about business and just talk about cats and skinny jabs. Good people don’t just leave — they run. Anyone competent or driven sees the writing on the wall within weeks. What's left is a revolving door of disillusioned staff and managers barely hanging on. Burnout is high, morale is non-existent, and turnover is treated like a badge of honour instead of a red flag. Talented People have left — not because they weren’t capable, but because they were given absolutely no support. Any manager who tries to raise legitimate concerns quickly finds themselves shut down, iced out, or conveniently “performance managed” out of the business, the smarter ones run when they see the sad state of the business. The pattern is obvious, and it’s enabled by the cozy alliance of senior leadership. It’s less about protecting the business and more about protecting each other. The company is stuck in the past and too slow, too arrogant, or too lazy to catch up. Every “new initiative” is just a recycled idea that failed the first time around. There is no strategy — just chaos and cover-ups.

avatar
Sally Salon Services Response
9mo
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We understand that seeing colleagues move on can be difficult, and we appreciate the passion that comes through in your comments. We recognise that change can sometimes feel challenging, particularly within a business that continues to evolve. Our focus remains on strengthening our culture, enhancing communication, and ensuring our teams feel valued and supported to succeed. As you’re currently part of the business, we would really value the opportunity to speak with you directly to understand more about your experience. If you feel comfortable, please reach out to your HR Business Partner or a member of the HR Team for an open and confidential conversation. Hearing directly from our colleagues helps us continue to make meaningful improvements across the organisation. Thank you again for sharing your perspective and for the contribution you continue to make to Sally Europe.

Explore other reviews about Sally Salon Services

5.0
Jun 1, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Opportunities for advancement, great compensation + benefits

Cons

Busy work schedule however still flexible compared to other places

avatar
Sally Salon Services Response
1y
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're delighted to hear you’re enjoying the opportunities for advancement and the compensation and benefits we offer. We know our teams work hard, so we appreciate your recognition of the flexibility we strive to provide. Your recommendation means a lot, and we're grateful to have you on the team.
3.0
Apr 22, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Discount, work with interesting people

Cons

salary is weak, no bonuses

avatar
Sally Salon Services Response
1y
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We’re glad to hear that you enjoyed the discount and working with interesting people. We also appreciate your insights on salary and bonuses. While we understand the importance of competitive compensation, we want to highlight that we do offer bonuses for all our store sales colleagues as part of our efforts to reward hard work and performance. We’re always looking for ways to better support our employees, and your feedback helps us as we work to improve the overall experience.
See reviews by: Helpful|Rating|Date|All