Focus on "theft"

A salon may lose stock as a result of theft, particularly by staff. Many salons attempt to reduce staff theft by;

• offering goods to employees at discounted or even trade prices (and in some cases free)
• allowing staff free personal use of all products and facilities in the salon
• offering staff commission on all products sold through the salon

Although they might reduce the incidence of crime, the above measures may still result in considerable expense being incurred by the salon. Despite such measures, staff may still steal goods in order to;

• give or sell them to friends
• sell them on the 'black market'
• carry on trade on their own account ('moonlighting')

Staff may also pocket takings or steal cash from the till.

In some instances, stylists allow their friends unauthorised discounts or free services which do not appear on the bill. A friend might, for example, be booked in and charged for a cut and blow dry, but receive an expensive service such as highlights.

The number of productive hours achieved may also be affected by staff dishonesty. Unsupervised employees may take excessively long breaks, as well as refusing to accept appointments in order to lighten the workload or to leave early. Some salon proprietors operate commission schemes in an attempt to motivate staff.

Incidences of theft and dishonesty by staff are likely to be highest if supervision is lax and may increase at times when the proprietor is absent from the outlet.