What can I do?

[Chocolatebananas]

On 26th of July 2011, I started working at a hairdressers about an hour and a half away from my home, by public transport.
On the 30th I had a client in, who bullied me into doing a perm, long story short, I warned her itbwas a bad idea, she demanded it be done and her hair fell out.... She is currently trying to sue the shop I work in, but being self employed, it should've been me. The woman I worked for, never told me I needed public liability insurance until this had happened. I went to see a solicitor and he said it isn't me she should be suing as the shop never made sure I had insurance and never asked and it sounds more like I am employed as she "takes care" of the money I make. I have been working there 3weeks and haven't received anything.
I was very upset last Thursday as she was making me feel very guilty, "I might lose everything, but, pfffftt, doesn't matter does it?" after shed said this I told her I wasn't coming on Friday or Saturday. On Saturday I received a phone call off her telling me that £70 had gone missing from the till, (she counts money before she goes home, puts it in an envelope, writes how much is in it and takes it home to put in her safe, without fail!) she told me the police were coming in on Monday to question everybody, I thought I was being excluded as I wasn't there, when I went into work on Monday everybody ignored me, excluding the senior stylist, everybody got questioned then they called me in, I later found out that everybody had pointed the finger at me, told thenpolice that they had SEEN me go into the till, and also told them I had been taking money from their bags! He then told me that the salon owner said the money has gone missing on Thursday! (I actually left 4 hours early that day as I was very upset) I was told almost every part of my life will be checked, bank accounts, friend, family, receipts, my boyfriend, everything, I'm not bothered as that is his job, what I am more bothered about is everybody lying!!
My last day of work was supposed to be this saturday, but being accused of stealing, being ignored I was bullied into walking out! I went ba k later with my mum to collect my things, I asked about the money I am owed and she took a weeks rent off me other money off me and left me with £15 for 3 and a half weeks of work! As I was bullied into leaving I would like to know my rights and any advise anybody could give me!! I'm absolutely distraught and very out of pocket!!

 

[SillyJokes]

You are very upset but I'd look at what you've written. I fear you were doomed to failure from the start.

First off you badly damage someone's hair.

Then you leave work early because you were upset.

You gave next no notice you were not coming in for two days - presumably appointments had been made for these busy days?

Money has gone missing.

I'd say you have already damaged her business quite badly in terms of reputation. If she gets sued over the hair damage she could loose her business altogether.

I don't see how you can imagine you'd be welcomed back with open arms.

You have probably come to the wrong place to get any sympathy as this is a forum for business owners.

 

[Chocolatebananas]

I rushed that post, as I was quite busy, I don't have to give notice to take days off if I have noone booked in. I went to a 'make a claim' solicitors and he couldn't understand why I was being upset as he had read through a contract I had been given and said technically I am employed, yet I pay to be there, I haven't recieved 'wages' as the owner said I would do, every Saturday. I was prepared to recieve a solicitors letter from the womans solicitor and was quite shocked when the salon got it, I rang the solicitor who sent it and he told me he knew I didn't have p.I insurance and I was newly qualified and had no supervision, it is the salons fault. My 'employer' told me I was covered for everything on her insurance if I paid £5 a month, which I agreed to, everybody was very supportive and helpfull until I had 2dats off to find solicitor advise and calm down, she was fine with that, she actually mentioned it, then I go in Monday and I am the main suspect in a theft I haven't done or wasn't there to do! I was ignored by everybody, I was going to stay until the Saturday to finish the week, but she wouldn't even let me do clients cause I had insurance but I didn't have the paper to show her, she had spoken to my insurance and had seen the direct debit go out! She said I wasn't slowed to do clients at all that week and my insurance docs came through that day! I HAVE been bullied out of work 100% and I cannot go back to a work environment like that, I was completly loyal to her and the salon and I was treated like that, I know fullwell that isn't fair! As i'm sure anybody would!

 

[Montaigne]

I'd follow the advice of your solicitor and possibly consider getting advice from the Citizen's Advice Bureau too.

 

[JohnnyCash]

Punctuation and paragraphs!!!

I might even read it if you add some.

 

[Lee Jones Jnr]

Not worth the hassle.
Move on.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

I'm not sure what your problem is?

You worked at a salon thinking you had insurance and it's debatable if you did, which puts the onus on the salon owner. Surely you checked beforehand?

The bald customer is taking action against the salon so you've had a lucky escape, although quite how you advise somebody that they shouldn't have a perm yet still give them one is beyond comprehension?

Presumably you have your terms in writing which will outline payment terms and could give you grounds to take action to receive monies owed.

Regards the thefts, if you weren't there you weren't there. If the other staff say you were then let them prove it in court and challenge your alibi whereupon you will be vindicated.

All in all you sound like you've had a lucky escape, I don't read or feel any compassion for the woman who lost her hair.

Pack up your bags, move on and put it behind you.

 

[saxondale]

first question - were you renting a chair?

 

[cjsdh]

Consult with a lawyer, a legal way to solve the problem

 

[James Greg]

I'd say the employer has treated you very badly this requires expert advice and I suppose you should consult a lawyer so your claim would not bounce off.

 

[SillyJokes]

If you were employed your boss would be within her rights to let you go after such a short time without any reason whatsoever.

It looks like the salon owner has not handled this at all well but she has problems. One of her staff is a thief. Another damaged clients hair and was unreliable, leaving the premesis which upset customers. Add that to the current economic crisis and it's little wonder she wants to see the back of the person causing most problems.

If you look at the big scheme of things you are newly qualified and you want to make a career in this business. I would put this behind you and move on because if you start to involve solicitors you could end up spending a lot more money and I doubt you would get a lot of compensation.

Or simply go to her direct and explain you plans. She may just pay you off to save the hassle.

 

[AndyBlue]

1. If you were renting a chair it is your responsibility to know your legal requirements not the salon owners (Insurance). I would at most suggest it is best practice for the salon owner to check whether you have it. You are an independant contractor so you require your own insurance.
2. Therefore you should be sued, i suggest that you have had a lucky escape as the salon owner probably won't be liable if they can prove no fault as you were an independant contractor.
3. If you didn't take the money you didn't take the money for £70 the police have got bigger fish to fry when there is no real evidence.

So, overall move on get a proper employed job or if you are going to rent a chair make you you get an NHF contract for doing so and you understand all your obligations such as PLI.

 

[Chocolatebananas]

There is a thread I put up about the perm previous to this, explaining in more detail what had happened... My "employer" (which is what she likes to call herself towards me) has pushed out 2 other stylists as I started, it put me off right away... But I felt sorry for her as I was the only stylist left, she's a very greedy girl, she is 22, she has no qualification in business, hair OR beauty! She has just recently opened the salon around 5weeks ago, she currently has 2 stylist a nail tech and a beauty tech, she isn't getting enough business in for those to pay their rent every week, yet she is advertising with money she hasn't got for 2 more stylists, a nail tech and a beauty tech! She doesn't know what she is doing, when I give her advice on opening a new salon she refused to listen, she did the whole "this is my salon not yours" I have worked in a large salon locally that has been open for almost 35 years, the advice he gave, is your start off with one hairdresser, that's all you need.

I don't have a clue about insurance. I didn't know it existed for hairdressing tbh. Not only that when I did find out about it, it was off my employer, she told me, for an extra £5 a month, she would put me on hers, so i agreed.
After I had been bullied into doing the perm, 3 days later the salon owner told me I had to get public liability insurance, I didn't know what it was, and I couldn't afford it because this perm put me more out of pocked than anything!

Because I was on her insurance she told me I could wait a few weeks untill I could afford it. Last Thursday I rang an insurance company, got a good deal and I am now insured, however, the s.o told me I was not allowed to do any clients at all that week, untill I brought in my insurance docs, which wasn't fair because the I.C said it could take 14 days to process and deliver! But she still expected me to pay the rent at the end of the week.

She shouldn't actually keep the money I earn, as soon as it hits the amount I owe her for being there, she isn't really allowed to keep the rest as it isn't hers, it's mine!

As for no companssion for the woman who isn't bald, who has short hair! I felt sorry for her, untill I recieved a solicitors letter, she is saying she has psycological problems! You must understand what this woman was like, she wouldn't talk to me, untill I mentioned I had food poisening, she told me to sue the place I'd got it from, I told her no point, costs too much and it's only a bit of food poisening! She then told me, if I wanted to do something or wanted something I will get it, I don't care gow and I always get it, (not the exact words but there abouts) I did refuse to do it when I saw the damaged hair, already there but she was having NONE of it! I had never dealt with a client like that, (i had a boss who spoke to me like that about 6 months ago, and he got a right bollockin' off me and I refused to work as it wasn't my fault btw) bit I didn't know how to handle this client, I warned her numerecly but she wouldnt take it!
She spent her time screaming at me for the next 2 and a half hours she was sat there, I thought her and her husband were going to jump me on my way home!!

Personally, from knowing the s.o, I think she is lying about this money! I've never had a bad thing to say about her untill I got that call. She told me the police were coming 2 days after the insident (Monday) as he wanted to speak to everyone and so they had time to get their stories straight.
I walked in on Monday to a hostile environment, everybody literally pointed the finger at me!
Now, I think s.o is lying because, she rang me up on sat, told me money had gone missing. (she counts money when entering the shop.. Before we leave she counts the money, adds it up against clients and if it's right she ticks the day off, puts the money in an envelope, writes how much on it and puts it in her safe, were it stays til payday (sat) she had, thurs and fri and sat to do all this, she notices on Saturday, but tells the policeman it happened on Thursday! Which made it very convenient for everybody to get their "stories straight" against me!
Being ignored, accused of theft and not being able to do clients, I wasn't going to stay there for a week!

Also, we had all bought hot pink Tunics the week before this (wed) they came on sat, mine was wrong, it was a beauty one rather than hair.
S.o told me she rang the place we got them from and they said, it's nothing to do with us, we can't refund it or have it changed. She also said that's the gods honest truth, I really did ring em! She told me she would keep it, unless I wanted a h.p tunic, which I didn't, but I took it anyway.
I decided to ring up the place when I got home, and yes the s.o had rang up, but the girl I spoke to said, s.o said shell bring it down Friday when she sorts out her accounts and I said we would refund it for her (baring in mind it was me that had paid for it!) but I asked to have it changed for another and to make sure s.o knows I changed when she cones in on fri!!

 

[AndyBlue]

Just move on, this is a forum for business owners not their staff. Also your post is rambling and doesn't make sense.

You start off saying you felt sorry for her as she has no other stylists but then say she has too many and in your earlier posts claim the other stylists blamed you for the money going missing. You say you have no experience but then claim she didn't listen to your advice ???

Just accept that you have wasted 3 weeks of your life but you have learnt loads and forget about it, and go work in another salon.

 

As has been pointed out, this is a business forum and it is a little unclear what the business gripe is. your employer's business acumen (or lack of it) is really not your concern.

You have consulted a lawyer who is the best placed person to handle your problems.

Best advice, as given, is move on and forget about it, however if you want to pursue a case you must learn to put your case clearly, succinctly and factually without emotion.

Use short paras and bullet points. Be clear about people, locations, dates and times and finally, be absolutely clear on the point you are making.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

Is Vicky Pollard in the house?