https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2019/03/22/the-abcs-arent-as-easy-as-1-2-3-in-california/ In-depth, locally-produced coverage of the Central Valley. Tue, 14 Apr 2026 18:07:51 -0700 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.ourvalleyvoice.com/2019/03/22/the-abcs-arent-as-easy-as-1-2-3-in-california/#comment-17988 Karie Bennett Mon, 25 Mar 2019 04:13:01 +0000 https://bak.ourvalleyvoice.com/?p=27488#comment-17988 Nice Point of View, but I take issue with this section: "I get my hair done, and so do millions of women in California My salon owner is afraid for her business’s future because her stylists now have to become an employee. Those who do your hair will no longer be able to set their own appointments, charge their own rates, or be independent. Instead, they will have to work eight hour schedules and adhere to their employer’s rules." I'm a salon owner who employs over 40 hairstylists who work the hours that they prefer--anywhere from 5-8 hours a day, from 2-5 days a week. They can book their own appointments through our salon app. The salons of today are aware that stylists need flexibility in their hours and we give it to them. In addition, we pay half of their social security, and make sure their payments to State Disability, Unemployment, and Medicare are made. We also pay for Sick Pay and for Workers Compensation. We also ensure that they are compliant with our state's tax laws, safety regulations, and worker protections. That's not a salon owner rule, that's the government rule, and since you are a Senate Republican Leader, you would be aware. You likely haven't heard the stories of stylists who were promised Independent Contractor status only to be held to those salon owners’ rules, told to work overtime (without extra pay), were told what to charge, what product to use, restricted by non-competes, and were basically treated as employees, without the salon owner ever paying their payroll taxes. You may not be aware of how many hair and nail salons are cash-only and operate in the Underground Economy. There are plenty of salons where workers are being taken advantage of, as other workers are in other industries, and that is the point of Dynamex. And what “employer’s rules” are you referring to? State Board regulations on sanitation and customer safety? There are two sides of this story. Please interview employer salons as well as the salon you go to, so you can represent the issue fairly. There is a way to be sure that all business owners comply with the law, and that all workers can be protected and treated fairly, and there is plenty of flexibility in how they work. Feel free to reach me for questions. Nice Point of View, but I take issue with this section: “I get my hair done, and so do millions of women in California My salon owner is afraid for her business’s future because her stylists now have to become an employee. Those who do your hair will no longer be able to set their own appointments, charge their own rates, or be independent. Instead, they will have to work eight hour schedules and adhere to their employer’s rules.”
I’m a salon owner who employs over 40 hairstylists who work the hours that they prefer–anywhere from 5-8 hours a day, from 2-5 days a week. They can book their own appointments through our salon app. The salons of today are aware that stylists need flexibility in their hours and we give it to them. In addition, we pay half of their social security, and make sure their payments to State Disability, Unemployment, and Medicare are made. We also pay for Sick Pay and for Workers Compensation. We also ensure that they are compliant with our state’s tax laws, safety regulations, and worker protections. That’s not a salon owner rule, that’s the government rule, and since you are a Senate Republican Leader, you would be aware.
You likely haven’t heard the stories of stylists who were promised Independent Contractor status only to be held to those salon owners’ rules, told to work overtime (without extra pay), were told what to charge, what product to use, restricted by non-competes, and were basically treated as employees, without the salon owner ever paying their payroll taxes. You may not be aware of how many hair and nail salons are cash-only and operate in the Underground Economy. There are plenty of salons where workers are being taken advantage of, as other workers are in other industries, and that is the point of Dynamex. And what “employer’s rules” are you referring to? State Board regulations on sanitation and customer safety? There are two sides of this story. Please interview employer salons as well as the salon you go to, so you can represent the issue fairly. There is a way to be sure that all business owners comply with the law, and that all workers can be protected and treated fairly, and there is plenty of flexibility in how they work. Feel free to reach me for questions.

]]>