In trouble with my boss... weird situation, any advice appreciated.

[Ginismedicinal]

I'm a hairdresser with 30 years experience, I'm employed in a salon and FULLY booked up til the end of November, not even room for a cut and blow dry... but, my boss sat me down yesterday to say I'm not earning her enough money, she's having to 'carry me'!
I've been here 2 years and, strangely, they charge about £40 for a full head highlights, toners and cut and blow dry!! I've NEVER worked anywhere that charges less than £90+ for a service like this.
Obviously they can't be charging enough to cover wages/overheads etc, and suddenly, out of nowhere I've been taken asside for this chat that there's not enough money coming in.
I'm the only stylist here, I open up, I close etc, just me. How am I to earn them more money if I'm fully booked up months in advance? I don't even have ANY breaks etc.
Is there something I'm missing? I'm so confused by this sudden 'problem' where the solution is in the owners control, not mine... charge more for the services! 🤦🏻‍♀️

Wow if your salon is within a hundred miles of where I live it would be worth it to make a trip there!

Your boss is deluded with those prices. Of course you need to make more money! Delighted you’re leaving but be cautious about going if you don’t have established clients independently yet.

I wondered this.

Minimum wage? Are you mad?

The owner clearly has no idea what she's doing, grossly underpricing your services, and it's also why you are FULLY booked. Clients know they're getting an absolute steal here ... at your expense!

You should look for another salon to work in or go out on your own.

Good luck op. I’d commit to the bookings you currently have but no more after that.

You’ve had really good advice here on clients who might expect your mobile service to be cheaper still than your underpriced current salon rates. Plus with no breaks you are on less than legal minimum wage.
Can you bring that up with your current boss while you quietly make your escape plan in the background before you leave?
I agree, once you know you’re on your way out of there, mention discreetly to clients they can find you on social media but don’t put anything in writing that could find its way to your boss later on- texts etc.

If she was doing that she wouldn't be complaining the OP wasn't bringing more in.

Sounds like someone whose priority is something else and she's not got her eye on the ball, whether it's personal life or other businesses or whatever else.

Agree that renting a chair is the way to go, saves all the hassle of driving round and buying equipment, plus you have the support of the other people in the salon while you find your feet and get your confidence.

(Don't forget to charge deposits in advance to prevent no-shows!)

Why aren't you running your own place?

Good luck today! You're doing the right thing.

But that may well be because of the ridiculously low prices. If OP starts pricing more realistically she can't assume they will follow her.

I'm surprised that nobody has picked up on your comment that you don't have time for breaks - your employer is breaking the law if you don't get the legally required minimum.

Do you arrange bookings, OP? If so, make sure they are timed so that you get breaks.

Do check your contract to see whether there is a clause about setting up in competition within the local area. Any such clause has to be reasonable, and you might need legal advice on it.

I pay £75 for a full head of highlights, this is from a hairdresser who rents a chair in a salon and has her own clients. I think with your experience you could go on your own and go mobile or rent a chair in another salon.

Thanks guys.
Firstly - I have NO contract with the salon/boss. She just took me on, gave me the shop keys and left me to it! I've booked out breaks for myself many times, but she removes them and books people in 🤨
I'm supposed to finish at 6 on a Friday night, but she has occasionally booked in a full colour correction at 5pm, and I've still been there at 9pm, no breaks 🤦🏻‍♀️
Far as I can tell from what clients have been telling me, stylists stay on average 2 years before they leave, wether they're fired or just leave I don't know.
There was a lady that came for a safety assessment a couple of months ago and when I said "the boss isn't here to sign off on this" she stated she'd been told I was the business parter... having my concerns about potential dodgy business dealings going on (her family have a criminal history and past ties with local mafia I'm told!!) It instantly raised red flags that IF my name is somehow tied to this business formally (most DEFINITELY unbeknown to me) than if somethings goes wrong - am I left to take any fall?
This sudden turn in her attitude with me concerns me. I'd very much like to stay til I build up my clientele, but my instincts are increasingly screaming at me... it's quite the mess 😬
Haha I'm in the Lincolnshire area x

Apart from having no understanding of market values in setting prices, if you're the only actual 'on the ground' worker that she has, she's even more stupid in putting all of her eggs in one basket.

Does she really pay for the premises and running costs - and factor her own income into it - all completely relying on the goodwill of you not just saying "enough is enough" and walking out, leaving her business to crumble like a house of cards?

I'm so pleased for you! I'm late to this thread but I was fuming to read that she had this conversation, spoke to you like that while paying you the absolute minimum. She is clearly the problem. Your update is fantastic! You've done the right thing and I really hope it pays in dividends! Well done!

Oh that sounds awful.

OP get out ASAP. until you do, take your breaks. Explain to clients they'll have to wait because you're on your break. Call up the end of day ones to rearrange so you can leave on time. For whatever reason, she's getting people out at the 2yr point because that's when employment rights kick in. She wants to continue treating staff like shit so she wants another sucker too scared to speak up because they know they've little in the way of rights. Report her to HMRC (I think, wages inspectorate) for paying below minimum wage. You could take her to tribunal if you wanted for unlawful deduction of wages (I think that's the one) because she's not paying you for every hour you work. You'll win because it's easily provable(?) the times you worked versus what you've been paid. Check your credit file in case she's signed you up for any debts fraudulently. Check Company's House to see if she's listed you as a business partner etc. Mainly though just leave. She sounds shady AF.

If there's no contract, then there's no notice period surely so you could leave the moment you next get paid. I say that, because without a contract she could withhold pay if she knows you intend to leave.

Also can you be 100% sure she's paying tax & NI on your pay? She could well be putting you through the books as self employed and unless you get a proper printed payslip showing how much tax you have paid, what your tax code is etc you can't be sure of this.

Other things to be concerned about is things like insurance; does the salon have a certificate on the wall where people can see it? Plus if she's been lax about so many things has there been a fire safety certificate issued in the last few years, checks made on that, any fire extinguishers and have they been tested within schedule, has any electrical equipment been PAT tested.... The list of things needed for a business premises go on and on and from the sound of it if she can't even be bothered to up her prices for years then she's not likely to have got around to this type of thing when she needed to.

How are the times worked provable?

Oh my. I've just seen you are in Lincolnshire where I am. My hairdresser was treated badly too. She was supposedly a partner, but with none of the benefits and talked to like a junior. She moved to her own salon and is doing well now.

Till logging payment times, alarm system logging when it's set/disabled, timesheets if OP submits those, customer testimonials of times/dates OP was working on them.

Did you have anything constructive to add for OP or did you just feel like taking a pop at me?

Ah sound awful OP and definitely leave - I recommend renting a chair.

My local large hairdressers shut and all the stylist went out on their own a few set up smaller salons and then renting chairs and they make so much more money!

And you can deal with no shows and make your own time and diary.

Time for a new job I think! They are cf! You are in a job where you can only do what you can. Tell them to get stuffed!