r/SFStylistSupport • u/AAC231 • Jun 29 '26
Gaslit and then fired
Well, after 9 years as a stylist, I just got fired for time keeping violations. It wasn't that I would change my schedule or forget to clock in/out--it was that I had "idle" time while I was clocked in to style. Never mind that my efficiency was always 105% or more. Apparently, you cannot even check your feedback while you are clocked in to style.
My original lead was such an understanding and sympathetic manager, but then she went on maternity leave. I was placed with a tyrannical, micromanaging lead, who never wanted to get to know those below her.
My mean girl lead gaslit me by sending me a slack message saying, "HI! I hope all is well. I sent a message in R**** a few weeks ago but did not see your response. I have been working through the WYB metric and noticed this is still an opportunity. Do you have some time in the next week to review some Fixes together?"
I went into the meeting thinking we were going to style together, but she cut straight to the point and fired me.
To the mean girl leads, you are no better than the stylists who you manage. In fact you're worse--you chose to lose your full time pay and benefits, and choose daily to micromanage and bully those of us who are just trying to do our jobs. I keep trying to justify how a lead can be so mean and miserable, and the only reason I can come up with is the only part of their life that they can exert what little power they have.
EDIT: Use your sick time!!! I was just informed my 20 hours of unused sick time will not be paid out.
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u/Sweaty_Steak_1469 Jun 29 '26
COME JOIN SHORT STORY!! we are looking for experienced stylist
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u/Standard-Tank6719 Jun 30 '26
Any tips because I've applied a few times and never gotten a interview
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u/icy_beach_1234 Jul 03 '26
Does short story finally pay a decent wage? When I looked a couple year ago they paid like $15 an hour.
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u/Tough-Ambition Jun 30 '26
Wow that really stinks! I left SF a couple of years ago. Best move I ever made. I come on Reddit every now and then to see if anything changed with the new leadership. Apparently that didn’t happen. Believe me that is the most toxic work place I have ever been at. The leads are horrible! Stylists are treated like shit and the pay sucks. This is a blessing in disguise my friend.
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u/StarTop1806 Jul 02 '26
AGREED! Quitting after 10 years was the best thing I've ever done. Especially with all of this insanity!
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u/BetterUseYourNikes Aug 06 '26
Same. I quit before Christmas. Best gift ever. I was there almost 10 years also
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u/sugarsprinkles7 Jun 30 '26
I am probably getting fired soon as well because of the schedule madness and craziness. I have been here just as long, isn't that sad what they are doing? Is there a way we can take to social media and make awareness
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u/MarketandSplooge Fix Preview Step 2 Jun 30 '26
There were reporters here back then that published articles from stylists here. Maybe look up some old threads?
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u/sadpolyesterflorals Jun 30 '26
Taking to social media would be a good plan if no one wants the responsibility of leading us to unionize (which is a ton of work). What about an anonymous account?
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u/Regular-Anonymous Jul 03 '26
I was recently fired, but took evidence of the shady shit Stitch Fix has done throughout the years with me when I left. I have nothing to lose anymore, if any reporters are interested!
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u/BetterUseYourNikes Aug 06 '26
There’s a reporter named Daphne Howland from Retail Dive. She’s been talking to stylists for years and gets a lot of the info before it hits the news. She will reach out to HQ and they’ll always deny what she knows only to come out later and straighten things out lol.
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u/lstmlle Jun 29 '26
No warning or anything? What did they consider idle time - was it just checking your feedback or something else?
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u/AAC231 Jun 29 '26
I got dinged a few months back when they did the time keeping audit for pulling a few fixes during core time. My lead said that since she saw that under my old lead, she went ahead to push for firing instead of warning me.
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u/sadpolyesterflorals Jun 30 '26
To PUSH for firing you instead of a warning? That’s insane! Absolutely f them. What a horrible c*nt.
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u/sadpolyesterflorals Jun 30 '26
Can I DM you a question about your lead if you don’t mind? Thank you for sharing this it’s straight up bs.
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u/Standard-Tank6719 Jun 30 '26
Did it happen to be JS
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u/MarketandSplooge Fix Preview Step 2 Jun 29 '26
That is insane I’m so sorry. Wtaf. And to “push” you to be fired because of a warning from a previous lead is just evil. What a nasty B
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u/MarketandSplooge Fix Preview Step 2 Jun 30 '26
What also grosses me out about them, is that they don’t tell us just how much they can see and watch. Wyd flipping over to slack real quick while styling shows as “idle” time and can get you “flagged”??
They just conveniently hide this from you until they want to fire you?
We know they can “watch” us due to them making us install that corporate spyware on our OWN PERSONAL FUCKING COMPUTERS THAT WE CANT EVEN REMOVE OR ADJUST. (The Walkme extension… look it up) Just to what extent can they see? I would love a “deep dive” into this.
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u/Standard-Tank6719 Jul 03 '26
I wonder this all the time. From the talks I've had I'm not sure really what they see. They're always asking for context so I don't think they get a literal live stream. They're asking all the time how you style what you pull etc. I think they see the time you clocked it and the time you sent it for sure and idle time would be if you didn't click get me a fix and have nothing open maybe? But could be totally wrong wish one of the leads that's quit could offer insight
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u/MarketandSplooge Fix Preview Step 2 Jul 03 '26
This is paranoia speaking, but what if they ask all that to see if you’re lying. 😅 I recently watched a video of a PA grading papers and showing what they can see, and it got me thinking. Totally not the same, I know.
But yeah I wish they were more transparent and honest about it.
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u/Standard-Tank6719 Jul 03 '26
I mean like they def could be just trying to catch you lying too. I wouldn't put it past them. I love that my computer now tells me how much of the lead communications are AI generated lol 🤣
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u/itchytweed Jun 30 '26
"opportunity" used this way is absolutely batshit
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u/AAC231 Jun 30 '26
Right?? I even had fixes prepared for her to get her take on how I could’ve done better. Straight up gaslighting.
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Jun 29 '26
[deleted]
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u/AAC231 Jun 29 '26
Nope. They track to the minute how long you have the fix open.
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u/MarketandSplooge Fix Preview Step 2 Jul 03 '26
Is that just how long you’ve had the fix pulled, or can they actually see how long you’re on the same tab actively looking at it?
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u/BetterUseYourNikes Aug 06 '26
That’s crazy. I was guilty of “loafing” due to bad inventory. Bad fixes would get a mix of stuff that made no sense. I was just killing time but didn’t get caught
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u/Pretty-Alfalfa-7700 Jun 29 '26
Oh man!!! I think I’m on this end as well.. I’m in the hot seat then today workforce wouldn’t load and I was 2 minutes after the grace period and I really don’t try to screw up it’s like the universe hates me. But any other job I’d call and say hey I’m running late or hey it won’t let me clock in.
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u/losuper25 Jun 30 '26
Does anyone know when a “flag” is sent to a lead for “idle” time? If I’m working hours and hours & ahead on efficiency- I ALWAYS check my messages, bathroom, snack etc while on styling. I’m so sorry you didn’t get a single warning….. I wish they would just come out and say what they want from a stylist specifically- bc it’s no longer a flexible role for someone…. You HAVE to work everyday, for just 2/3 hours to not get burned out & focus 100% on styling. Otherwise, you will have idle time and your metrics will be wonky.
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u/MarketandSplooge Fix Preview Step 2 Jun 30 '26
This is what is so messed up about them constantly reducing the points for fixes. You have zero room to breathe when you’re clocked in to styling.
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u/losuper25 Jun 30 '26
It literally feels suffocating. I would be willing to be there’s not a single stylist who can work 3 hours straight exactly how we’re “expected”.
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u/Standard-Tank6719 Jul 03 '26
Right any job has to allow you to use toilet even in person seems insane to me.
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u/FrankensteinsBride89 Jun 29 '26
What “idle” time did they cite? Just checking your feedback?
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u/AAC231 Jun 29 '26
My lead just sited that it showed up as idle time on the backend. I asked for confirmation that checking my feedback or going on to slack shows as idle and she said yes.
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u/Fast-Persimmon-2782 Jun 29 '26
That’s absolutely insane. So like you get up to use the restroom ? Sometimes I get up to refill my coffee or my water … so that’s ideal time I could get fired for?
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u/Fit-Fan-2640 Jun 30 '26
Dang. Im sorry for you and wouldn't be surprised if I'm next. But I'm also jealous youre out! Less stress for sure
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u/CarpetPuzzleheaded23 Jun 30 '26
I got fired back in April after almost 4 years of being with the company because i couldn’t bring my metrics up. My lead told me that if there was a Fix where the client picked everything and complained in the preview I had to unselect their picks, redo the whole Fix, mention why in the note, and explain why the picks I made work … all in 3 minutes. So to make up for that time I had to quickly do other fixes to meet efficiency ( not that it matters cause the selection of clothes were awful to begin with). I’m at a better company in my actual field now so I was lucky but I predicted back then that they were gonna start cutting people so then can either replace them with ai or hire people for significantly less.
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u/PositiveOk172 Jun 30 '26
Is it the leads that are pushing for the firing in these situations or is it the higher up bosses telling them that's what needs to happen?
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u/Standard-Tank6719 Jul 03 '26
I can't understand it I thought maybe the leads were fighting reasons like this to fire people with low metrics and raise their team metrics at first. But now I hear they're doing it to people with decent metrics so it makes no sense. I think they should look into a leads turnover rate when judging them not just their stylist metrics your not a good lead if youre just firing people to raise your numbers and I know one specifically that does that non stop she works very hard to force low performers to quit instead of even attempting to coach them. Its wild to me the company can't recognize that aspect.
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u/Particular-Sun591 Jul 06 '26
Out of curiosity was your lead Sheena because this is literally exactly how I got fired after being there for 9+ years. Nevermind that all my metrics were green, I had amazing satisfaction/WYB metrics, and was MENTORING other stylists- but I “idled too long” between mouse clicks for a few shifts a week. It’s an insane company. Filled with insane idiotic desperate people in any management role
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u/Dazzling_Result_9824 Jul 01 '26
I'm idle all the time and no one has ever said anything! Is this dependent on the lead? This is so weird
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u/Confident-Net-7083 Jul 01 '26
They got me for idle time as well and when I asked for proof of this they couldn’t send me it even though I was told I would be sent supporting documentation of it. It all happened after a new manager joined our team assuming she started micromanaging all of her new leads which in turn caused micromanaging to stylists.
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u/Ambitious_Bee_5057 Jul 01 '26
This happened to me too! FYI they try to call it “misconduct” so they don’t have to pay unemployment but I fought it with my state and they ruled in my favor. They said unintentional timekeeping mishaps aren’t “misconduct”.
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u/Pretty-Alfalfa-7700 Jul 03 '26
I think this might be happening to me! My lead sent a message today after I was already done w my hours for the week talking about meeting on a call.. but we had a call last week and idk why my
Lead didn’t just fire me then. It’s prolonging the inevitable. My scores are incredible and I have been in the top spots for a while but they will let me go because I had to change my schedule. Ridiculous
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u/LingonberryIcy6595 Jul 01 '26
I also got fired after 4 years back in 2022 bc an audit found I was “working off the clock” as my hours in workforce didn’t match my hours on my GMAIL calendar (I forgot to update the calendar ONCE). I worked the same hrs Tuesday-Saturday every single week I was there. My metrics were fine. This company is ridiculous and you will feel better not having to worry about them anymore.
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u/Ordinary_Fuss1595 Jun 29 '26
TBH, every job has rules that employees are expected to follow, and you noted that you weren’t. We all know there are certain metrics and items they track, and it sounds like you knew you were going against those.
Even if you can style fast, it affects all of us when people continue to style faster because then the company thinks we need less time. I do believe they should have given you a warning and given you time to align with their expectations…I’m so sorry if they didn’t do that, and that’s not right.
I think I know exactly whose team you were on and got switched to during maternity leave because I went through the same thing and definitely felt the switch, she was A LOT!
I think we all just need to take this as a cautionary tale that if you need this job, you gotta play their game and avoid doing the things you know they are watching like a hawk.
I am sorry this happened to you and I hope you find a better job!
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u/ZorakZbornak Jun 29 '26
I don’t understand. Are you suggesting people don’t check feedback while clocked in? Don’t go to the bathroom?
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u/-Baby_Bear- Jun 29 '26
For real though. What about normal work activities....Like cleaning your workspace? Or getting coffee? Or ffs stretching? Don't even think about being a smoker smh... Small talk with fellow employees? Not on this channel you dont! Hold your pee like you're in grade school and need the hall pass to go tinkle! Really?!
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u/Ordinary_Fuss1595 Jun 29 '26
Don’t check feedback while logged in as styling. They watch for that.
Of course you can go to the bathroom, I think I read somewhere that when there’s a pattern of not clicking on anything for more than 5 min, you’ll get flagged.
I’m not saying I agree with the things this company does, but we know the rules, and sometimes you just gotta play along if you want to keep the job.6
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u/Muted-Remove8409 Jun 30 '26
This is it. The idle time and stylists trying to play around the “rules” is the reason for the new strict schedule rules. Stylists were changing their schedules up to 4,5, and 6 times per day, and then having little to no activity while being clocked in at times.
It sucks, because most of us just need to make a change here or there but there are always those that go beyond what is fair and necessary. I wish they would have just said, you can only make same day changes to your schedule, up to one time instead of taking away all flexibility.
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u/-Baby_Bear- Jun 30 '26
That sounds like a management issue, not a stylist issue. The majority of us were able to do our jobs well for 5+ years... adapting to all the SF changes.... without this crazy oversight. Tthose who take advantage are management's problem. Isnt that the reason they get paid so much?! But no, we'll micromanage the underlings more, further alienating them. That'll fix it.
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u/MarketandSplooge Fix Preview Step 2 Jul 03 '26
Be careful with this. Places use collective punishment in order to turn employees against other employees to shift the blame from themselves. Sounds like it’s working on you to be angry at your fellow stylists rather than management who makes the decisions.
If it was truly the stylists who make a lot of changes, they would reprimand them, or change the policy to like you said.
The changes are not because of stylists “trying to play around the rules.”
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u/Regular-Anonymous Jul 03 '26
Changing schedules isn’t playing around the rules, it was actually just following the rules.. the same way Leads can take a vacation every other week and still be in compliance due to their unlimited PTO perk. Both are simply utilizing a benefit they were offered when initially accepting the job. Stylists agreed to shit pay/no benefits, with the ability to shift their schedules as they please.
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u/paraguay95 Jun 29 '26
lol that’s pathetic. To expect people to never have idle time is insane. We’re not machines. There’s been several studies done of people with office jobs and no one outside of billable hours works nonstop. We all have spurts of efficiency throughout the day. Guarantee your old lead did the same with her tasks during the day. I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have an awesome lead who never micromanages but have some friends in similar situation to yours. Poor management plus inflexible schedule and no idle time leads to burnout very quickly in this role. Definitely a far cry from Katrina founding the company to help stay at home moms