I feel for you Kate, I really do, what a horror to have to face on a daily basis and as if you don't have enough to do and worry about!
I have had salons before and I am really not the confrontational type but there comes a point when it has to be no more Mr nice guy!!
My advice would be this:
Arrange a meeting which EVERYONE has to attend, tell them that it is only going to take 10 mins so you don't get any moans about taking up time etc.
Calmly and in a non aggressive way state that you now own and are running the salon and have tried to get across to the therapists/hairdressers how you expect things to be done. It is obvious, however that this isn't working.
What you are going to do is give each person a handbook explaining exactly how things are going to be done in the salon from now on which you would like them to go home and read thoroughly. Over the next week you will have separate 5 min meetings with each of them to find out if these are conditions in which they are happy to work under. If so, there contract can be renewed, if not they will be terminated as soon as legally possible.
If they agree then renegue then they will recieve a warning followed by termination.
Make the handbook as detailed as possible so there can be no misinterpretation.
I think you need to "clear the air" and show em who owns the business. It takes a lot of balls to run a business and you shouldnt be treated like this.
Let us know how you get on!! xx
My thoughts exactly.
If they are self employed, do they provide all their own items - capes, towels, brushes etc? If they don't want to clean up after themselves, if they own the stuff, just toss it out. I have a rule in my house, if I have to pick it up, it goes in the bin. I'd be doing the same to any of their stuff. If you don't look after it obviously you don't want or need it.
Tell them that when they fork out the money to buy their own salon they can be as grotty and slobby as they like, but until then, shape up or ship out.