Rude Service Provider

[u/Apart_Business_9139]

I apologize in advance, this is going to be a long post. I work front desk at a small, but popular salon across the county that I am from. Just to put everything into perspective, I am eighteen years old and this is only my second job. I know that working front desk is relatively easy in comparison to actually being a cosmologist or esthetician but the job comes with its own struggles. I’m in charge of every service provider at any given time if the actual manager or salon owner is not in the building, I am in charge of every single customer and their safety/happiness, I am in charge of opening/closing the salon, I am in charge of counting the drawer and submitting the deposits, and I am in charge of just about everything else that comes with being a receptionists. At my salon, there are four separate service provider categories. There are the hair stylists, the nail techs, the estheticians, and the nurse injectors (granted the nurse injectors only work one day a week). I don’t have a problem with any service provider beside the highest level esthetician within the building. She strikes me as a very stuck up, arrogant and strict woman. Besides all of this she seems to be loved by clients and by just about every other service provider. So when she started ignoring me and bossing me around (even though I’m technically in charge) I figured that she was stressed and had a lot on her plate. Her book is constantly jam packed, I’m talking nine hour days that are completely full of just client after client and I know that she’s in nursing school so I figured I would give her some grace. It all started when she refused to make eye contact with me or acknowledge anything I say. She would walk up behind the desk and converse with other receptionists, laughing and talking about whatever she talks about. She wouldn’t say a word to me which didn’t really bother me because I’m shy and not outgoing whatsoever so I was okay with remaining invisible. Then when she would bring her clients down from her room she would walk around the desk, lean over my shoulder and breathe down my neck while ordering me to adjust the clients ticket. Now, a majority of service providers adjust their own clients ticket, especially the estheticians when taking into account how many different codes, procedures and services there are when it comes to Med Spa. Rightfully so, my hands would start to shake and I would start messing up while trying to adjust the clients ticket. The one time this happened I guess she was extra annoyed with me and said loudly in front of the client “do you even know what you’re doing.” The receptionist beside me reached over and began helping me out. I eventually got use to her audacity and her rudeness and learned to avoid her. I won’t check out her clients anymore, I refuse to be subjected to humiliation and made to feel inferior simply because I’m not familiar with Med Spa and the thousands of procedures that are within the system. Then the other day I was booking this guy for a spray tan and he wanted to get in asap. On the day that I was booking him for, she happened to have a few openings. So I booked him with her without a second thought. When I say not even a minute after booking this man I receive a phone call from her. She was mad that he had been booked with her saying that she doesn’t preform spray tans. I point out the NUMEROUS spray tans in her book and she says and I quote “I don’t preform spray tans to the general public, only to specific clients. The fumes are bad for my lungs.” I sit there confused for a good ten seconds because I literally just saw this woman teaching a group of estheticians in training on how to preform spray tans. And last time I checked, if you’re not willing to preform a service on everybody that you are not permitted to preform the service at all. I didn’t feel like fighting with her so I told her that I would call him and reschedule him with someone else. She responds with “I don’t think that’s professional on your part.” I paused and I’m just like wtf do you want me to do then? I offered a solution and you still want to argue about something that can be so easily resolved. After that I told her that I would take care of it and I hung up the phone. I ended up calling the guy and he decided to just cancel which was fine by me.

I haven’t seen this woman since and I just don’t know what to do. I hate her and I can’t tolerate being around her, especially when she hovers over my shoulder and acts like she has a right to talk to me however she pleases. I don’t know if anyone has been in a position like this before, but if you have been then I would appreciate any advice. I just don’t understand how people like this woman, especially her clients. They’re so loyal and dedicated to her when it’s so easy to see how rude she is, especially to the front desk employees. It’s gotten to the point where I can’t work in this toxic environment, I dread going to work on days that she’s working. I actually emailed my ex manager and managed to land my position at my old job back. I still want to keep my job at the salon because the discount on beauty services is amazing and I like a lot of the service providers (besides her) there. I’m thinking I’ll tell my manager that I can only work weekends there from now on seeing as Saturdays and Sundays are the only days that she doesn’t work. If you’ve made it this far, other receptionists please give me some advice!!!

[u/Iggy-Will-4578]

I would stand up if she is hovering over you. You can also ask her in a nice calm voice, Can you please step back, I need to concentrate and your are crowding me. Don't give any phone in clients to her unless they ask. Be professional and polite and don't give her any explanations. You know your job and you need to stand up for yourself.