Taking a sick day isn’t always as easy for hairdressers as it for those in other professions, such as office workers, and it can also vary depending on whether you are employed or self-employed. While the notion of taking a sick day should be straight forward, there are a few different aspects to consider. So, to help you approach the situation HJ spoke to Sharon Jackson, a hairdresser with over 30 years’ experience in employed and self-employed hairdressing, about the key factors to consider are when taking a sick day.
What to Consider as an Employed Hairdresser
In an ideal world, you would provide as much notice as possible, however sometimes illness arises unexpectedly, so there’s not much you can do to give your employer a heads-up. However, rather than waiting till the last minute, in the hopes that you might feel well enough to work, it is always best to communicate the situation at the earliest possible chance. Sharon explains: “One of the benefits of working as an employed hairdresser is that there will be a salon manager or receptionist that will be able to contact your clients and rearrange appointments when you need to have a sick day. However, the salon may wish to book your clients in with other members of staff, to retain business. With this, there’s always the risk that your client might find they prefer someone else’s methods more. However, you should trust in your abilities and your client relationships – the worthwhile clients aren’t so easily swayed.” She also adds: “As with any job, if you’re going to be off sick for an extended period of time, your employer will likely ask you to provide a doctor’s note.”
What to Consider as a Self-Employed Hairdresser
Sharon begins: “The first step to taking a sick day when you’re a self-employed hairdresser is obviously to contact all of your clients. Where possible I try and phone each client, as that way you can guarantee that they’re aware of any changes to their appointments – unlike with texts and emails, where you can’t always be sure if they’ve seen it. If I do have to resort to leaving a text message, I’ll ask them to reply and confirm they’ve seen it. This all helps to avoid clients turning up at the salon when you’re not there.” It's inevitable that some clients will be disappointed, but some may even be disgruntled. Sharon shares: “All you can do is apologise and offer to reschedule their appointment. I do think people are more understanding since Covid, though.” When it comes to rescheduling appointments, there a few different options, however Sharon explains that she prefers to book them in on a day with availability the following week, rather than extending her working hours to squeeze them in. “Obviously you want to keep people happy and see them as soon as possible, but you’ve got to give yourself enough time to recover; if you end up working till 9pm for three consecutive days when you’re back in the salon, it wouldn’t be that surprising if you start to feel run-down again.” She also shares that one of the benefits of being self-employed, that she has experienced, is that clients can be more supportive. Having transitioned from employed to self-employed a few months before the pandemic started, many admired her determination. “They also appreciate that it is just me and are empathetic to that.”
