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drrat

VfM4meplse wrote: »

Has your daughter actually addressed the issue of payment (rather than just feedback) with the manager? She's generating income for the business, but the manager probably thinks she's a little bit naive and is happy to milk the cow for free.

Do not be tempted to wade in. This is her fight, and she needs to stand up for herself.

I know I am fighting the urge, not easy though when its your daughter being taken advantage of.

Going on what she has told me, and what I know of her, she has probably only indirectly broached the subject.

I may give her a script and insist she asks all the questions I give her and gets reasonable answers.

She is only just 18, she is niave no doubt and not the most confident or outspoken individual. So this is just the kind of thing she will find difficult.

OwnedByFerrets

Maybe just the kind of opportunity then that she needs to gain confidence about confronting issues like this?
Connexions can be fairly helpful about these things because they know all the ins and outs of it.

Still there is minimum wage in place, and if she's not with them as a volunteer then she's working and should be paid. I was messed about too with the prospects of an apprenticeship, if she is already qualified then there's not really much point of that though (unless she has very little experience, which doesn't seem to be the case)

I think your idea of giving her a script is a good one, but it'd probably be a good idea to have a second set of ears about to her what 'boss' says, I appreciate that you don't want to go in and confront them yourself, it seems it could be a very sensitive position.

I hope it all works out for you and your daughter soon.

saintjammyswine

As she has NVQ2 she could still do an apprenticeship but without that element. Or she could progress to advanced apprenticeship (NVQ3 is the assessed element).

SandC

Are her clients aware that she is an unpaid volunteer? They certainly should be if not. I know I would not be happy if I found out a young lady cutting my hair was not being paid for it!

Does she get tips?

an9i77

By all means advise her what to do but, as someone else said, you have to let her fight her own battle. I know it's tempting to take charge of the situation but whether you confront them or not, let her be the one in the driving seat. How does SHE feel about all this - that's the one thing you have not mentioned yet.

RedwoodBrook

How does insurance work in these sorts of situations?

If the girl is not an employee then she surely isn't covered by any insurance? What would happen if she were to cut/injure herself, or a client, whilst carrying out her duties?

That's a genuine question if someone can answer?

smileylondongal

If she's not being paid, then she's either only on work experience or a volunteer. If she wants to be a full or part time employee then she needs to be paid. Even apprenticeships are paid. It sounds like they're taking advantage and she should find an alternative salon to work at where she is paid and can show what she's learned.

If she likes it there, she can have a word with the manager but I think as tempted as it is as a mum don't please get involved as she will encounter work issues time and time again in her life and she'll need to get her head round it. I think what she now has in her favour is some experience so she should move on.

jamespir

saintjammyswine wrote: »

Go back to bed Mr/Mrs/Ms Grumpy.

im not grumpy love

ceridwen

If its work - then it should be paid.

It quite definitely IS work - even at the lowest level, ie sweep floors, etc.

They are "taking the michael" and she does need to say to them that she cant afford to stay working for free (and...yes....make sure she uses the word "working" quite specifically = no vague stuff about "staying here"). At that point she's called their bluff and they either have to start paying her for her work or forget the whole idea. Chances are that they will try and forget the whole idea - ie by coming out with a load of waffle and vague promises for the future - hoping to string her along for a while longer yet.

So she can either give them a firm date by which they must start paying her appropriately (say a months time) and leave at that point if they still havent started paying up. With her other option being to ask them/point out she cant afford to work for nothing and not give them a deadline to "do the decent thing" by BUT report this salon to the National Minimum Wage people in HMRC and ask them to investigate.

Right now - it would be useful if she sat down and made out a diary of hours worked/duties done as far as she can recall from the day she started work there. Certainly - from here on in - she needs to keep an accurate diary of hours/tasks done.

It IS true that she will need to do this for herself I would think - because she is going to encounter a lot more bad employers before she is through and will need to learn how to deal with them for herself. You wont be around later on in her worklife to fight her battles for her - so just advise her how to proceed with this one and encourage her to stand up for herself and then stand back and hope she "fights" for herself.

Perhaps she would be helped by learning a bit about "assertiveness" - ie as opposed to being passive or aggressive in dealing with things. There is a good book on this "A Woman in your own right" - try looking it up on Amazon and theres a good chance there will be a copy available for 1p plus postage.

EDIT: just checked. The author of that book is Anne Dickson and there are indeed copies of this book there for 1p. That £3 or so (ie including postage) could be one of the best investments you could make in your daughters future for her. I certainly found learning a bit about this very useful personally.

ceridwen

I didnt realise it was necessary to make the distinction between paid work and voluntary work. Obviously - voluntary work is, by definition, voluntary (ie work one is doing out of the goodness of ones heart for a charitable cause).

A job like this, on the other hand, is clearly in the "paid work" category - but, in this case, its not being paid for by the employer.

So - I do not deserve to be thought the worst of wrongly - as I thought this would be quite clear.