WHAT WOULD YOU DO: Giving Notice Before You Leave
You’re super excited to open your own salon, but dreading the moment when you have to tell your boss you’ll be leaving. One stylist who is currently in this situation wants to know: how much notice should she give? Here’s what advice stylists and salon owners in the BTC community had to offer.
“I work at my salon as a booth renter, but I plan in summer 2018 to open my own salon. How much notice would you give the owner of the salon? I’ve been working with this woman for more than 10 years, and I don’t want to burn the bridge but we aren’t exactly friends. I just want to be as professional as possible without working in an uncomfortable work environment if she ends up upset with me. I was thinking 6 weeks or a month?”
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Anywhere From A Couple Weeks To A Month
“As a renter you should have a lease and it’ll likely say how much notice should be given. If you’re renting month to month, a 30-day notice is adequate and the owner can’t (at least based on the lease) ask you to leave prior to the month that you’ve paid for. If it’s week to week rent, 2-weeks notice is the standard in any industry.” – @vanessajane
“At least 3 weeks. If you’re nothing but cordial there should be no problem. A good stylist/owner/educator wants nothing more than to see you succeed in life and follow your dreams. Then there are some who will see you as non-friendly competition and give you the stink eye, a cold shoulder and maybe even fire you on the spot. Depending on your relationship with them, don’t give too far of a notice and keep it concise and simple.” – Desherra Martin
“It is usually stated in a booth renter’s lease, however, I think 1 to 2 months is courteous. There is something called respect. It’s not easy to be an owner and if you’re planning on being one yourself, I’m sure you would like the same respect. I personally would never tell an employee to leave on the spot unless they were stealing.” – @beckyp11
“Anything more than 2 weeks is overkill. Two weeks is professional and will keep it short and sweet.” – Bren Whyte
“As a salon owner, I would appreciate at least a 2-month notice (not breaking contract of course), so that I have enough time to look for another booth renter and and it won’t hurt me financially. If she makes it a hard work environment for you, then leave sooner. At least you did your part as a professional, but hopefully she’s more mature than that.” – @nikkistylist11
“I told my boss as soon as I decided to open mine. She was super supportive and gave me a lot of advice and encouragement.” – Kiara Ziemba
“She is probably reading this and already going to fire you, so just go ahead and give your notice. The hair business can be cutthroat and it doesn’t have to be.” – @tracywood6117
“As a stylist who filled the chair of another stylist who opened her own salon, literally a block away, and took two stylists with her—all deviously without warning—I would say the sooner the better. That way, she’s not blindsided suddenly with empty chairs to fill. She has financial obligations as well, and it’ll help to not burn a bridge.” – @tracygraystylist
“As a salon owner, I would like a month. I have had a stylist leave to open her own. It wasn’t awkward and I wished her well. A month gives me a good amount of time to advertise to fill his/her spot.” – Deborah Siobhan Mallon
“I gave my previous employer a 3-month notice, the day I signed the lease papers for my salon. I felt that it was better for them to hear it first from me, instead of the word getting out that you’re opening a salon from anyone else. If you’re a booth renter, I’d hope they’d be more okay with the idea of you leaving, since you’re technically already on a 1099 and already a ‘business owner.'” – @alexpardashian
But Be Prepared To Pack Up That Day
“Have all your ducks in a row because in my experience, they want you gone as soon as you give your notice! But definitely either write a letter or tell them in person how much you appreciate the experience and that it prepared you to venture out on your own. Thank them for that opportunity, then hope that they are just as professional in return.” – Monique Howell
“I recently gave a 1-month notice, paid for the month but was out in 2 weeks. I had overlapping rent for a 2-week period but it was worth the couple hundred dollars. It was sufficient notice to be professionally courteous to the owner and short enough to avoid any prolonged uncomfortable feelings. I’d recommend having your new space on lock (check written and keys in hand!) before giving notice anywhere. Even the sweetest ‘friend’ owners can get tender when it comes to losing a great renter.” – @mommmjeans
“I’ve been in this business for more than 30 years and worked many places, but I’ve only had one owner not get upset. I don’t think giving notice really works. At least it didn’t for me, especially when I worked for someone for 12 years and she humiliated me in front of everyone!” – Renee McNutt-Bacca
“In my experience, you will be asked to leave as soon as you say you’re leaving, so make sure your salon is ready and all your clients know where you are.” – Ian Lavender-Collins
“I worked in a salon where the minute he found out you were thinking about leaving, he’d have your stuff waiting at the door in trash bags. Two to 3 weeks is plenty of time.” – @kpwilhoite
“Make sure your salon is fairly done in case your present boss decides to terminate you. It’s such a touchy thing, especially if you’re not that close. I think 1 month is generous and after working together for 10 years, it’s a good notice.” – @hairbender5488
“I would plan on leaving at the end of the day. Take a vacation and have it marked out. That way you are finished and it won’t cause hard feelings to linger on a few days. We have a policy where if you tell us you are leaving, be prepared for it to be your last day. It’s better for both sides that way. Allow yourself at least a week so you can start immediately at your place.” – @cindalou11
“I gave mine only a 2-week notice even though I had been there for 16 years because I watched her tell someone 5 years prior that she could just leave when she told her she was going out on her own. So I wasn’t taking any chances. I was ready to open just in case she told me to go, but she wanted me to work my 2 weeks. We are still nice to each other.” – Lisa Flansburg
“Read your lease agreement first. I would give 2 to 4 weeks notice. Unfortunately, some owners would kick you out on the spot. I was fired on the spot when I was opening my hair salon, so be ready.” – @leo_poshhairsalonnyc
“Thirty to 45 days is very professional, but you have to understand that this person might be upset with you and tell you to leave at that moment. Please have a plan for both scenarios. I know barbers/stylists who try to be professional and give their boss 2 to 4 weeks notice and they get told to leave then. Start giving and getting all of your customers contact info. Start going above and beyond, in which you should be doing anyway, so your customers only want you to do their hair. Start keeping a file with customer names and contact info so you can see how many clients you truly have.” – @hairby_eddie
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