Five things you didn't know your salon needed
As a salon owner or manager you have numerous responsibilities, and with so much red tape and extra demands on you, it can be easy to let certain obligations slip through the net.
Here are five must-haves that sometimes get missed.
Two licences for playing music
If you play recorded music or music videos in your salon you need licences from two separate bodies - the PPL (Public Performance Licence) and the PPR (Performing Rights Society). This applies to any commercial property that has music or videos playing for staff or clients. Many salon owners make the mistake of thinking that if they have one of these licences they are legally covered, but that's not the case. You need both. The PRS licence ensures royalties are paid to writers and publishers of music; PPL distributes royalties to performers and record companies. The need for a licence is not limited to public areas, such as the salon floor, but also applies to office space, for example. The cost of each licence varies depending on the size of the premises and the extent to which music will be used.
For further information call PPL on 020 7534 1070 or the PRS on 0800 068 4828.
- Find our more about playing music in your salon
- How music can boost your salon income
- Join the debate about salon music on the My HJi hairdressing forum
A drinks licence
If you sell or even just offer free alcoholic drinks to clients you need a licence. Those who flout the law could find themselves with a fine of up to £20,000, or a prison sentence of up to six months.
Licences are issued by Licensing Authorities, usually through local councils.
You can locate you local Licensing Authority via the direct.gov website.
- Serving alcohol in your salon and the law
- Join the debate about the legality of serving Christmas tipples
A contract of employment
It's unlikely any salon owner will be unaware of the need to issue staff with a contract of employment, but many don't realise how imperative it is to issue one within a legal time-scale. The law requires staff be issued with a contract within the first eight weeks of employment.
Further information can be found at the Habia website.
- What to include in your contracts of employment
- Salon owners' legal quandaries involving contracts
- Share your query on the 'legal mattters' forum on the MyHJi forum
A regular record of risk assessments
Health and safety at work regulations stipulate that business owners must either allocate someone the task of carrying out a regular risk assessment of the premises or do it themselves. A risk assessment is a careful examination of everything in the salon that could cause harm. A record of assessments should be kept and staff notified of the results - with training provided where necessary to minimise any risk.
Further information can be found on the Habia website.