Mandatory uniforms that don't allow the skin to breathe (they never keep it cool enough in the store), cookie-cutter mentality of following the same sales pitch and routine word for word EVERY client (which virtually eliminated the whole personal client-to-stylist relationship, even though they require you get requests somehow), not getting more than 30 hours a week which is all contingent upon selling product (something out of our control), bi-weekly Saturday mandatory "pep" rallies where the manager would call out on the carpet everyone who breathed wrong that week...also, they would cut your hours with no warning but expect you to be waiting with bated breath by your phone to be called in at a moment's notice, even on your day off or if you had gone home for the day. As far as ever getting sick, forget missing work unless you can find a replacement , which is virtually impossible.
The stylists are also expected to do about 20 closing duties with no help from any insiders, such as receptionists. It would look like a hair bomb had gone off on some busy nights.
Mandatory marketing using your own vehicle (in simpler terms...soliciting coupons). Stylists are skilled at doing hair, not marketing...in my opinion, they should either hire separate marketing people or pay way higher for gas compensation (as we were not compensated for this to begin with)
They do not allow you to access or keep track of your tips until your shift is over. Also, if the drawer is shorter than $5, they would expect stylists to pay for it out of pocket, but no proof was shown where the missing money had gone.
Mandatory attendance during your off hours at community events...again, pushing coupons.
Workers who have a run-in with another team member (say, for example, someone just does not like you and acts rudely and another team member reports to upper management on your behalf because of the bad behavior), BOTH stylists get a write up and put on probation over it. However, this had to remain confidential (at explicit manager's orders). Or else we would be written up.
Having to split time between three understaffed stores...again wear and tear on my car, not to mention no chance of ever getting that mandatory clientele.
Most stores close at 8 or 9 depending on location, however, they require you take haircuts 5 minutes past closing time.
They do tell you this company is not for everyone once you are hired and have you by the shorthairs...so you do get "warned". However, within 30 days, they also can let you go at a moment's notice if they think you don't fit their standards somehow. I lucked out and passed but the stress alone sent me packing a few months later.
It may be all in the management. The store I was hired at was where all these things I listed above occured. The other stores I helped out in were wonderful. Yet when I put in a request for a transfer, they denied it, saying I had to earn it, producing great numbers and product sales. However, I had already done this.
