Staff working alone at night?

[Miss Apple Pie]

Do you have one female employee on at night? Your thoughts on this? Customers ever comment? Every salon I know does this.

I have done this for years without incident, but I just had a customer go off on me via email, making me out to be the devil because I would do such a horrible thing.

Not sure how to respond to her....

[northtanman]

i don't really understand what you are asking? but for security reasons and also good customer service i have 2 employees on at closing. (however, sometimes one leaves early) but for the most part, especially when darkness settles in before we have closed i recommend 2 emps closing and walking out together. its a security reason...and also helps to give better customer service during their closing duties. i try and require one person at all times at the sales counter. ( i know they both will do thier closing duties, but one is supposed to be at the front counter at all times)

[Tanning Queen]

How old is the person working? How late are you open?

I never had any problems with anyone closing up alone. The cops always were close by. If there was someone creeping out the employee, they knew to call me the cops and ask for a drive by and then call me and i will come "stop by". Never an issue.

Y ou dont need to respond to this person. It is your business and run how you want. Does she feel the need to say that to EVERY business owner that has one employee working at closing? What about opening up alone? Cant the same issues happen there? How about in the middle of the day when there are no customers? Isnt THAT a problem too for her?

Just ignore the email. Some how it ended up in your SPAM box.

[northtanman]

maybe the customer is speaking out for the employee? maybe they've had conversations with the employee's...maybe the employee's have asked...with no action from the this owner??

[dcjjp1]

Tell them to buy more lotion and sessions and quit bitching about which plan is the cheapest so you can afford to have another employee on. LOL!

[newdawn]

Depends on their age. If your employee is 18 or over I think it is OK but I have cameras in my salon and I can watch from home when my employees are closing. I agree with the comment above about the employee bitching to the customer. If your employee is under 18 I would not have them close, I would switch their shift if needed or cut hours.

[enuf]

In the slow season we always had one person on at night. Not busy enuf for two. Busy season we have four people working so things could move smoothly. We have police officers patroling our strip mall every night and we have a panic alarm for my girls in case of anything happening. I've been here for 18 yrs and nothing has ever happened.

[Miss Apple Pie]

The staff range from 17-22ish. It doesn't sound like the staff said anything to her. She said in her email she went in and noticed only one person there at night. I think she usually tans during the day.

The staff have made comments to me from time to time, but I am pretty sure this lady has instigated this herself.

We have never had an incident either. The customer is worried about the girls getting robbed or worse, some type of assault.

So, do you spend the extra money just for the extra 'feeling' of security even though the extra staff is not needed?

[northtanman]

Originally Posted by Miss Apple Pie

The staff range from 17-22ish. It doesn't sound like the staff said anything to her. She said in her email she went in and noticed only one person there at night. I think she usually tans during the day.

The staff have made comments to me from time to time, but I am pretty sure this lady has instigated this herself.

We have never had an incident either. The customer is worried about the girls getting robbed or worse, some type of assault.

So, do you spend the extra money just for the extra 'feeling' of security even though the extra staff is not needed?

yes, i do staff 2 to close even if slow. especially when its dark outside. 2 reasons though, not just security that they can leave together...but to have a better closing...ie: one emp is doing closing responcibilities while other is tending to the front desk. i don't leaving the front counter unattended and bad customer service if no one is there to greet and say good nite to clients as well.
and yes, i also have security camera's...but they don't work in the parking lot. (when the emps walk out)

[yamahaguy]

I really think it depends on what time you are closing and what the area is like that your salon is in. Busy shopping center with lots of lights and people or a deserted building at 1am.

[northtanman]

Originally Posted by yamahaguy

I really think it depends on what time you are closing and what the area is like that your salon is in. Busy shopping center with lots of lights and people or a deserted building at 1am.

true! i mentioned when its dark out and i have a stand alone building...
but another point i make which does'nt seem to catch anyone...is having 2 people there so one can do the closing duties and other is at front counter at all times to give the best customer service. so, when someone comes in or leave's they get attentive service.

[yamahaguy]

Our salon is very slow the last 2 hours. My staff is able to do both most months of the year. In the very busy months we do have 2 on at night for closing duties and if it gets busy the staff waits and does their cleaning after closing. (hasn't happened in years)

[northtanman]

Originally Posted by yamahaguy

Our salon is very slow the last 2 hours. My staff is able to do both most months of the year. In the very busy months we do have 2 on at night for closing duties and if it gets busy the staff waits and does their cleaning after closing. (hasn't happened in years)

if i understand you correctly, your single pm staff can do the closing duties and be at the front desk all the time? how?

[Mojave Tan]

We close at 9pm. All my employees are over 21 and have never had a problem with 1 person during slow season. This strip mall has security patroling, we have a silent alarm and bell on the front door so no customers are left standing. Security also waits outside our door at 9pm for the staff to count $ and watch them get to their cars safely.

Talk to your employee. Maybe she is the one with the problem, but your customer was brave enough to voice for her. If she doesn't feel safe, offer to switch her schedule if possible...if not...there are always people looking for jobs...

[Ezliving_Jim]

I run single coverage year around except during the busy season on closing shift when I schedule double coverage.

[Tanning Queen]

My emps would not really start any closing duties til everyone was out of the salon. There really wasnt much to do at close anyway. All of the rooms were cleaned and trash emptied between sessions. When all clients were gone, the door would be locked, the drawer would be counted in the office away from the window and the mopping would be done then too. I had a small, mostly stand up salon in a strip center. The cops were always in there around closing time. And never had an issue if someone needed them to be around when going to their cars. But we had a busy center so it really wasnt an issue.

My employees were always scheduled for 30 min past closing too, just to make sure it wasnt rushed.

[Mojave Tan]

Agree with Tanning Queen....Clean as you go.

Easy to do mirrors, empty trash, stock shelves, fold towels, do laundry, etc. in between customers.

Closer - cleans bathroom after door locked.
Opener - walks out trash and mops floors.

I am cheap....only schedule 15 minutes before and after shifts.
Really hasn't been a problem here in 2 years.