Be careful what you wish for...

[praisinghim2day]

Due to MANY illegal practices in the salon I'm at, I'm suing the owner.  The laws that are being broken are federal and state labor laws.  (Being required to perform salon duties OFF the clock is only one of the many issues at hand.)  I started seeking legal counsel back in July about the issues and asking about my rights as an employee.  My attorney advised me to let the manager know that I had saught legal counsel.... which I did, and got written up for it.  (Another illegal act!)  The manager has NO business being in the position she's in.  She's a 25 year old, VERY IMMATURE,  alcoholic... no exaggeration.  Things were bad before I talked to an attorney, but got much worse after she found out.  My attorney says that this is the exact reaction he wanted from her... any detrimental act towards me from the time she found out, just adds to the lawsuit as "retaliation". 

As time went on, she decided to start making up lies and writing me up for things that never happened.  After the first one, I refused to do anymore register counts or opening/closing paperwork.  If she's going to make up lies I'd rather it not have anything to do with money. KWIM??

A couple months ago, I was introduced to a lady who was opening up a new salon LITERALLY across the street from where I work now.  I was hired on the spot in the interview.  She had heard of me and had already seen my work and actually saught me out through a mutual friend.  Scheduled opening is set for the beginning of Feb.  I gladly accepted the offer and did my best to hold out and be patient with my current position. 

The illegal practices in our salon are all due to the manager.  They are her rules... NOT the rules of the owner.  Other than her, I ADORE everybody I work with.  We have a great dynamic going. The longer time went, the worse things got.  On Tuesday I was working with a manager of another location as she was filling in at our salon.  She could see a lot of the issues herself and was asking me about them. I didn't sugar coat anything and told her the truth as to why certain practices were happening.  She immediately called our district manager and started telling her what was going on.  Thursday the owner came in to check on some of the problems brought to his attention by our dm.  Kiro (a guy I work with) was pulled into the office during the owner's visit and was accused of having an affair with me... OMG.... REALLY???  The owner then looked at him and said "a black man has no business being on a white girl".  Kiro of course denied any involvement with me that way... and rightfully so... because NOTHING has EVER happened between us.  By the end of their meeting, the owner thought better of firing him and let him keep his job but told Kiro that it "has to stop".  So he still thinks that there was something going on.  We found out that the manager was the one behind this lie... not that it took a genius to figure out.  Kiro came in the next day and put in his two weeks notice.

Yesterday the manager called an hour before her shift to tell us she would be late, that she had a meeting with the owner.  A little while later, the owner called and said that the manager is no longer employed there, and the assistant manager has now been promoted to manager. (which is awesome bc our a.m is an AMAZING girl!  I LOVE working with her!!)  I pulled her into the office after she made the announcement and told her that I had no problem doing duties that have to do with the register anymore and that anything she needed from me; I got her back ;)  She got tears in her eyes and thanked me.

I'm still leaving my current location when the new salon opens, but it's going to be bitter sweet.  Now with the manager gone, I want to stay.  I will miss the people I work with.  We have a great dynamic amongst us.  However;  the new salon will give me more opportunities in my career.  The owner of the new salon wanted me bad enough, that she's allowing me to  only work every other Saturday (which in 98% of salons out there, including hers, EVERY Saturday is MANDATORY), I'll have a SET schedule, will only have to work 2 evenings a week and I'll never have to work a Sunday.  This scheduling will allow me to spend more time with my kids.  I have to do what's best for my family... time to turn another page in the book of my life.

 

[MamaCass07]

Jan. 10, 2010 at 11:08 AM

Wow, I knew she was a jerk, but had no idea you had been going through so much! I hope that from here on out things will be much different for you!

[praisinghim2day]

Jan. 10, 2010 at 11:25 AM

Thank you, Cass :)  It's been a long tough road, but my patience has finally paid off.  I wish I could take the time to list all the details of every law being broken and every act of retalliation, but I'm sure CM won't give me enough space for the "War and Peace" novel!!  lol

(Original Poster)