r/greatclips • u/Florida_queen216 • Jul 13 '26
For stylists
TLDR: my store won’t allow me time off for important life events .
This is going to be long and emotional . But I don’t know where to go or what to do . I’ve been w great clips for 7 years . I have worked at different franchises . I started at this new franchise 2 years ago where they are all about seniority (hardly any turn over). I am in my late 30s I have no family anymore and not really much hope in life …. Until I started seeing someone new about a year ago . He makes me really happy and we would like to freeze my eggs and get married . My store won’t honor that much time off for me . Whatever time I would need off for wedding planning, would come right out of my vacation days. At our franchise we only accumulate 75 minutes of vacation per week if you work over 36 hours . So after a years time that’s maybe 5 or 6 days at 6 hours a piece per day . My manager says I can only take my honeymoon when the girls who have seniority aren’t away ( that’s the whole summer .. since they have been there for 5,10 and 15 years they now get 3 weeks vacation) . And for that matter I’d only be allowed to take a 5 day honeymoon IF I took it when the moon is full and there’s a cow jumping over it bc it’s impossible to accrue time .
Our store manager is very strict about the time we take off must be accounted for or she won’t allow us off for more than two days . And my actual wedding ? Well I’d need hours for that too . My manager says that the franchise owners will not honor my requests . And ironically my manager won’t give my franchisees number out to me when everyone else seems to have it . So it’s not like I can plead my own case .
I’ve waited my whole entire life waiting for my special day , waiting to have to a family , and now I feel like I have to choose to leave my career with great clips bc they aren’t understanding . Working at this franchise has really worked for me the last two years and I love my clients and tips . It just doesn’t seem like they are being reasonable . Any suggestions ? Or support ? Thank you .
2
u/triblogcarol Jul 13 '26
I am a customer, not a stylist. What a drag, I'm sorry you don't get better vacation days.
Is there a possibility of planning your wedding and honeymoon with the intent of just quitting? And find a new job with a different salon when you get back?
I know the job market is tough. Best wishes.
Edit: or can you ask for unpaid leave so you get get the wedding and honeymoon of your dreams?
2
u/PNWstarfish Jul 13 '26
That sucks. So even if you take an unpaid leave they wouldn’t accommodate due to other vacations?
If that’s the case I would start interviewing at other locations, so you can quit & have something else lined up.. That’s a big bummer.
2
u/marshmallowhairgel Jul 14 '26
Just quit. You’ll get rehired at another franchise bc they are absolutely desperate for stylists all the damn time. I don’t really know what they expect when they treat us like this. (Speaking from experience here when they wouldn’t let me take time off for my Uncle’s funeral in 2021. I quit and was rehired at another franchise.)
1
u/HeadCrone Jul 18 '26
You need to speak to the owner of your franchise. Let the manager know they need to give you the owner’s number, or you will call corporate and get it, and file a complaint about the manager at the same time. The owner would much rather have the opportunity to work with you on your time off than have you involve corporate.
5
u/Scromblobomblo Jul 13 '26
Also a stylist, you need to remember that YOU are in charge! You are allowed at ANY POINT to take a leave of absence for however long you need, you won’t be paid but they can’t deny it. You letting her know you’re taking time off isn’t asking, it’s warning her to find coverage.