employee handbook
welcome to the BSH crew! We hold very stringent standards for all of our team. Our expectations of you as an employee will be high and we will work closely with you to hold you to our standard of being. This handbook will help lay the groundwork and set you up for a very long and happy employment at our salon.
professionalism
Looking the part is the number one key. Please always arrive to work in clean, unstained clothing that is work appropriate. If you get dressed and ask “is this work appropriate?” it likely isn’t. The following things are unacceptable as work attire:
open toed shoes (in the case of dropped shears and injury)
worn/dirty clothing
anything with an odor that is too noticeable, this includes perfumes and lotions
excessive cleavage
very short dresses/skirts/shorts
leggings or tops that are see through
athletic/workout wear (if you wear it to the gym, it is not work attire)
fashion sneakers are permitted, tennis shoes are not. If you wear them in the gym or running, they are not work attire
hair and makeup MUST BE DONE. If you skimp on hair, makeup MUST BE DONE. If you skimp on makeup, hair MUST BE DONE. Absolutely do not arrive to work with obviously dirty hair. Do not arrive to work looking like you just rolled out of bed. People pay a high hourly rate at BSH, and we need to look like it.
Bohemian Stylehouse has worked extremely hard to become an established and award winning hair salon in Charlotte. Client satisfaction and experience is what differentiates us from the rest.
client communication
What are the best ways to communicate well with clients?
speak to each client kindly, and with respect
over communicate and be very clear about expectations and reality during consultations. Be absolutely sure both you and the client fully understand the expectations of the appointment, this includes results/timing/total price/upkeep.
if an issue arises during consultation, know that you have the choice to decline services to a client. if red flags are popping up, or you just both can’t seem to get on the same page or communicate well, suggest that you reschedule the appointment or refer them to another salon. If a client is being abusive, threatening, or inappropriate they may be asked to leave IMMEDIATELY regardless of where they are in the service process.
please keep all client communication in Aura. This way if an issue were to arise, we have record of communication.
Your job is to do a great job, every time. Sometimes redo’s are necessary. However, redo’s may affect you in the following ways depending on context: 1) loss of income if client requires a refund due to stylists negligence 2) potential termination if professionalism wasn’t exercised and the client was told an unrealistic expectation could be met/if stylist went against better judgement and performed a service on someone who’s hair could not withstand that service.
work schedules
The schedule for Bohemian Stylehouse employees is decided upon during the initial hiring process. That doesn’t mean that days/hours cannot change, but notice must be given in advance. You should arrive at the salon a minimum of 15 minutes prior to shift start time to prepare for client arrivals. If you consistently miss this 15 minute window, you will be written up each time you’re late and disciplinary action will be taken. This 15 minutes is time to prep for your client, to help with laundry or anything else your team members may need. All employees are responsible for starting their shifts on time, and completing them. This means all responsibilities of the job are complete including client care and duties. Each stylist decides what days/hours they work, and any work outside of those hours needs to be pre-approved. We have stylists who share stations, so we always want to be sure there is a free station to work at outside of your set schedule. With station sharing, please be sure you’re finishing your last client promptly, cleaning your station, and moving your hot tools.
late policy
1. Warning 2. Write up 3. Possible termination at discretion of management
This policy includes not being 15 minutes early for your shift.
sick leave
We do not offer any type of paid sick leave. Any days taken off due to illness/fever will be unpaid.
accidents
It is our responsibility to acknowledge our mistakes and be truthful with our clients. Discounts and/or reimbursements are at the discretion of the stylist and management. If the salon does not get paid for a job, neither does the stylist.
employee relations
Over communicate with fellow staff. Treat others respectfully. Talk to each other directly when issues arise. If there is gossip (speaking about a negative with someone other than people who can change it) you will be written up. Three write ups and disciplinary action will be taken, which could result in termination. The goal is to prevent gossiping, drama, and a toxic work environment. If you do not feel as though you can speak directly to the person who there is an issue with, please let a member of management know, who can organize a meeting with everyone involved. Absolutely under NO circumstances should any issue between employees or management be addressed or discussed in front of, or to clients.
Teamwork is a big part of everyone’s role at BSH. Examples of teamwork are:
greeting and assisting clients (asking if they would like a beverage and showing them to the restroom)
help maintain the cleanliness of the salon by doing your assigned duty every day
checking in with your team members to see if they need anything before you leave, especially if you’re leaving midday
assist co-workers if/when they need it
arriving to work 15 minutes early to help catch up on things that may need attention (such as bathrooms, laundry, or dishes)
Duties
We all play an integral role in keeping our salon thriving. Duties will be posted in the break room and must be signed off on each day, and a different set at the end of the week. Consistent failure to complete weekly duties will result in a write up. Three write ups and disciplinary action will be taken, which could result in termination.
work rules
It is impossible to list every action that is unacceptable conduct; the following are a few examples. Employees who break work rules such as these will be subject to disciplinary action, including write ups and termination.
theft or inappropriate removal of Bohemian Stylehouse property including misuse of client information
using salon facility and/or equipment for personal financial gains
tardiness
working under the influence of drugs or alcohol (this includes drinking before work, on lunch breaks, or during work. It also includes drinking alcohol provided by the salon for clients, even if it’s after hours or taken home)
fighting or threatening violence in workplace
negligence or improper conduct leading to the damage of employer-owned equipment
sexual or other unwelcome harassment
no call / no show on scheduled work day
unauthorized use of phones, internet, computer, or other employee owned equipment
unsatisfactory performance or conduct
mishandling, mistreatment, and/or aggressive confrontations with clients or employees
job abandonment or leaving job assignment unfinished
failing to meet job description responsibilities
gossiping (talking about an issue with people who can’t help resolve the issue, therefore causing bigger issues)
zero tolerance policy
Bohemian Stylehouse has a strict No Tolerance Policy for drugs/alcohol at the workplace. YOU ARE UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES ALLOWED TO DRINK BEFORE OR DURING WORK HOURS. You will be terminated immediately. We also have a No Tolerance Policy for racism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism,or bigotry. Immediate action will be taken upon the incident.
smoking/breaks/lunch
If you’re a smoker, smoking is permitted in management approved areas, which is out back. Management can revoke smoke breaks at any time for any reason, especially if work is being left undone and smoke breaks are being taken. No E cigarettes or vape pens are to be out or in use at any time in the building, please use them outside only in the back.
band
Band is how we communicate for anything work related. You are required to download and use the Band app. This is where important information will be posted. Please familiarize yourself with Band, and it’s interface. There are many features including a shared calendar, a hard post feed, group convos, individual convos, and much more. This is where employees can reach out for any non urgent, work related things. It is required that you check Band each day you work and acknowledge posts by liking or responding to the post. This helps us all have boundaries of work hours! If it is an emergency, please call Candace or Mary directly. We will do the same for you, in the case of emergencies ONLY.
social media
We require that you post a minimum of 3 times a week on your Instagram grid. You are also required to post your openings Monday-Friday in IG stories. Each day you should delete your old story post, and repost any openings. This is our tried and true way we have found works best to help build your clientele. If you need help with ideas, please reach out to Candace for a meeting. She will be who can guide you through content ideas, scheduled posts, etc. We want IG to not become a chore you dread, but rather be easy to manage and help build your clientele. BSH is a creator account, please use it to your advantage! You can invite BSH to collab on a post, and it will hard to post to both of our grids.
Building clientele
If you’re working on building your clientele, and have an excess of downtime, we have a process to help you work on that. It includes taking content models (at a discounted hourly rate), building your brand, creating a social media plan, and Destroy The Hairdresser education.
Content models
If there is downtime in your schedule 24-48 hours before your shift, you should reach out for a model call. This is for you to create content, try new techniques, or do something bold. Your model should come wearing what you’ve asked, with makeup done, in order to take photos and video to create content. Use this person to take as many videos and photos in as many areas of the salon as possible. Ideally you would want to get 8-10 photos/videos from one person to use for 8-10 different posts. If you are taking models regularly and we are not seeing the content being used, your privileges to bring in models will be revoked.
Having your hair done
Services between employees are permitted with approval from management. There is a fee for product charges: $10 per bowl of color. You will venmo your total to @bohemianstylehouse4416
Please be respectful and send over the total as soon as the service is finished.
purchasing product for yourself
Employees get 50% off of products. This is for employees only, not friends/roomates/family/or anyone else.
Davines Pro
You are required to create a Davines Pro account. It will give you access to free education every month, as well as detailed breakdowns of product knowledge.
So you’re ready to move on from BSH…
If you’re ready to leave BSH, please be upfront and honest. Let us know you’re ready, and work out your two weeks notice. If things aren't working out and you feel you can't contribute positively as a team member, it's okay to finish up on a decided date rather than complete a full two-week notice. We want to make sure the work environment is supportive for everyone. We want to be sure your clients know where to reach you and their appointments get moved over. At the end of your shift the last day your Aura account will be deactivated. This means any appointments on the books will be GONE. So be sure you have them moved over.
We appreciate your professionalism during this transition. Please refrain from promoting your move while you complete your two-week notice, so we can keep things focused on the work at BSH.