A proposal to cut weekend penalty rates for hairdressers has found little support in the city’s salons, with businesses wanting action on the other costs they face.
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The Australian Industry Group wants the Fair Work Commission to see penalty rates on Sunday and public holidays slashed.
They want to see the Sunday rates cut from double-time (200 per cent) to time-and-a-half (150 per cent), while public holidays change from 250 per cent to 225 per cent.
Iko Iko Hair owner Jane Lance said cuts to penalty rates weren’t going to have the impact the industry group expected, with businesses facing rising costs.
Mrs Lance said running a small business was a balancing act and wages were one part.
“It’s more than just wages, it’s electricity, supplies, rent, super and tax. In the long run it’s not going to save huge amounts of money,” Mrs Lance said.
There is no extra charge for customers on the weekend.
Mrs Lance said Iko Iko Hair didn’t open on Sunday, and while lower rates may mean extra staff, it wasn’t that simple.
“You’ve got to treat staff well to keep them. It’s a competitive market for retaining quality hairdressers,” Mrs Lance said.
Flhair Hair Studio owner Sam Fuda said penalty rates should not be cut and he would prefer cuts to tax.
Mr Fuda said his staff deserved what they earned.
“Paying big in tax hurts a small business,” Mr Fuda said.
“I wouldn’t like to cut my staffs’ wages as they work very hard for the money they earn.”
Hairdresser Jess Lamrock said customers were time-poor during the week and chose to get their hair done on a weekend.
“People work long and hard during the week, if you closed on a Saturday, you would lose such a large part of your clientele,” Miss Lamrock said.
Demand for hairdressers on the weekend is growing as Orange becomes more popular for weddings.
It often isn’t just a hair cut but colours, extensions and more.
“It can take two hours to complete the work,” she said.
Miss Lamrock said she’d be unhappy to lose penalty rates as Saturday work was a requirement.
“For hairdressers with children, it makes a Saturday shift tough, you can’t see children play sport and there’s less time with them,” she said.
“It makes it better to have those penalty rates.”
Declan Rurenga
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
Declan Rurenga was the editor of Griffith's Area News and Leeton's Irrigator until September 2023. Before landing at the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, he reported news in Junee, Wagga Wagga, Orange and Cootamundra.
