Hairdressing work conditions - is this normal?

[begginoods]

I have a 19 year old who has finished Level 2 Apprenticeship in the last few weeks and is awaiting confirmation of their qualification.

Over the last 18 months, there's been some issues and I wonder if someone could tell me if it happens elsewhere? I know hairdressers generally don't get breaks and have to work longer hours than contracted

1. About 4 months ago, whilst still unqualified, the manager said that

a) my DD had to bring in a number of clients and generate a set amount of revenue for the salon per week, or she'd have to go part-time.

b) There were only certain times of day, an in fact only certain days, that she was allowed to woek on clients for revenue targets, so essentially, her hands were tied behind her back before she started.

1. DD has been told she has to join clubs in order to find new clients for the salon but her working hours and competitive hobby mean she gets no time to go to clubs, or even have outside interests. Her manager has insisted that she should start teaching her sport - unfortunately the professional body won't allow amateurs to teach without very strict rules being followed and she will have to fulfill a huge set of criteria to even be considered...so it's a non-starter but the manager isn't listening. She's been heavily criticised for not doing this - is it normal for employers to insist on this and use it as a means to threaten to make her part-time on non-performance grounds??

1. She rarely gets a break, however, the smokers (the manager and three other stylists) get regular smoking breaks. When she does get a break, it's always interrupted because they want her to wash a clients hair so that they can have a "fag break" - is this normal and acceptable?

1. She never finishes on time, which I understand is normal. However, she works an average of 4 - 6 hours a week unpaid overtime. Is this normal?

1. Salon training days are often scheduled on her day off or Sunday - I understand training's important but she never gets this time back and she's also been bullied into giving up her half day for training too. What always happens, is that they don't train her and they get her to merely clean the salon and wash hair. Is this acceptable?

1. She never knows whether she's going to be paid until the day before pay-day. Basically, for the last 15 months, only part of her wages are paid directly into her bank account and she is then given a cheque to deposit into her bank account. They always ask her what the minimum amount is that she needs, cash-wise. This means she never knows how long she has to make her wages stretch and she has financial commitments in the form of direct debits and standing orders. The manager has told us that if she requires all her wages to be paid into her account (like they were in the first 4 months of her employment) then they will have to make her part-time. Is this normal?

1. The managers question her as to whether her family and friends are promoting the business and working hard enough to bring new clients in. They continually ask her why we don't go into the salon more often (we have a very low income and can't afford it, coupled with other reasons)

1. She is still friends with a former employee, as am I. The manager frequently quizzes her on how often she talks to the former employee and demand to know what they talk about. She has been warned that it will effect her chances of being kept on if she talks to her.

1. The manager say that she must go alone to a park, to hand out promotional vouchers, in midday, 32 degree sun. She had no sun cream, hat, or clothing that covered her arms, legs or neck - she already had sun-damage from not being able to wear sun-cream on a team-building exercise 10 days ago. She said that she was happy to go with someone else as she was worried about coming across someone who had attacked her. She has been reprimanded verbally for this and has been told that her refusal to go alone (and for having no sun protection|) means that they will probably not take her on when she officially receives her Level 2 qualification. Is this normal?

10. The manager has told her that if they make her part-time, they will only allow her to do bar work because she will be expected to work beyond her contracted hours, if they choose to schedule clients that way.

So sorry it's so long. Have already spoken to ACAS who were only partially able to help. She's not ready to go out on her own yet

God no that sounds terrible! She'd be better off going mobile self emplyed! I have a lovely just qualified girl who comes to our home. I got her off Facebook. She has a good FB page with pics of her work....she spreads the word by updating regularly...and by joining those local sellling sites...your DD could do the same until she can get a better chance!