Read the scenarios & then test yourself by answering the questions that follow. What would you do if you were Peter or Paige?
1
Peter loves to have a good time. Almost every day after working at the salon, he meets up with his buddies to hang out. They go to one another's apartments, order pizza, drink and watch television until late into the night. Often, because Peter is so tired, he sleeps on his friend's couch and then gets up the next day and goes directly to work. His salon coworkers always know when Peter has been out with his friends the night before because he is barely awake, is unshaven, and is wearing the same clothes he wore the day before. Peter gets teased by some of the other salon employees for being a "free spirit," but Allie, the salon manager, isn't as able to dismiss his messy appearance because he is often so disheveled that he is off-putting to salon clients. Allie decides to have a conversation with Peter about his appearance and personal hygiene. The best time for Allie to approach Peter would be:
2
What should Allie discuss with Peter?
3
What could Peter do to make sure he is fresh for work even on nights when he doesn't sleep at home?
4
The image that Peter is projecting to clients suggests that he is
5
Paige is in her early twenties and loves to wear her short, cropped hair messy with styling glue; she describes her style as "bad-girl-meets-the-beauty-biz." She also often wears sleeveless or short-sleeved shirts to show off her numerous tattoos. Paige loves to wear dark, colorful makeup applied in a "gothic" fashion. Since she really needs a job, Paige has decided to apply at the luxury spa that has just opened a few blocks from her home. A couple of days before her interview, Paige goes into the spa and observes that the spa employees are all wearing simple black clothing with white smocks over them. She notices that their hair is styled into simple and classic looks and their makeup is very subtle, employing natural colors and techniques. Paige decides that in order to have a shot at the job she wants so desperately she will dress in accordance with the other spa staffers during her interview and then slip into her own style once she has gotten the job. How should Paige go about finding the best place to work?
6
From the description, what seems to be the energy and image of the spa Paige is interviewing at?
7
What type of salon seems most appropriate for someone with Paige's sense of style to work in?
8
Is Paige's approach to getting this job ethical?
Feedback
A conversation about such a sensitive and personal matter is better conducted privately. Allie wants Peter to understand her desire for him to succeed without be-coming embarrassed or defensive. Privacy is the best solution.
The only time it would really be appropriate for a manager to discuss personal behavior with an employee is when that behavior crosses the line from personal to having an effect on the professional situation the two are in. Allie is not asked or expected to give Peter personal advice, but she is expected to uphold certain codes of conduct and cleanliness for her salon's clients.
Peter is a young professional adult who knows or should know what is expected of him in terms of his outward appearance and personal hygiene to be successful at his job, so it is his responsibility to present himself each day for work in a professional manner, meeting the expectations of the salon, if he wishes to continue working there.
Peter's image says that he is overwhelmed by his life and cannot balance his 'partying' and his professional requirements. When he arrives at work in dirty, wrinkled clothing and has not cleaned himself properly, it leaves the impression that he is not taking proper care of himself and his health, and therefore not acting in a manner befitting a professional person.
While Paige probably needs a job very badly, the worst thing she can do is to make herself into someone she is not to get a job offer. She should visit several salons in her area to find those that most align with the kind of tastes and preferences she has and then decide which of those she would like to work in.
A luxury, high-end spa is definitely an environment that caters to affluent exclusive clients who are willing to spend their money on luxury products and services and who will expect to be serviced by a certain type of professional whose personal style mirrors the spa's and their own.
To be successful in the long term, Paige needs to work in a salon whose style reflects her own and that caters to clients who can appreciate her sense of style.
A major component of being ethical is being honest in all aspects of every interaction. By dressing and acting like the other stylists in the spa and then intending to resume her preferred style after she gets the job, Paige is not being honest with the spa owners, or with herself.
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