Don't work here! - Anonymous employee Great Clips Employee Review

1.0
Apr 18, 2012
Anonymous employee
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Clients, some of the staff were friendly, tips, training was very helpful

Cons

I have 8 years of previous experience and have never worked for a franchise before. I figured I would give it a try since I was knew to the area and I needed something with a base pay. $9.00/hr! I was told that with productivity I would be able to make more than $9 an hour. Well, that never happened. The only time we would be able to hit productivity was on the weekends and ALL staff was required to work. So the number of staff to client ratio would never allow our productivity to go above the required amount to make any extra money. Changes were constantly being made that none of the stylists were ever aware about. I got sent to numerous different salons and never got any incentive for my gas to get to other locations, or my time. I was sent to a salon that was 45 MINUTES away from my home and didn't get reimbursed for gas, or any extra pay. If I refused to go to different salons I would be suspended for 3 days. We had to give 24 hour verbal notice if we were not going to be able to go in the next day (understandable) and I had given a manager more than a 24 hour notice, she then wrote me up and said that I had failed to find a replacement. When she failed to call me back at all after I had text & left a voice mail that if she needed me to find anyone then to please call me back, and I would be more than happy to find a replacement for myself. She did not call me back. Then she proceeded to bad mouth me to her stylists saying that if I called the salon to find someone to work for me that they were NOT ALLOWED to cover for me. Awesome management! Another stylist who I was friends with had been with the company for 15 years and all she received was a WORN denim jacket with the Great Clips logo on it. It had rocks in the pockets and stains every where. I was promised I would be kept in one salon after I said that I couldn't handle the constant changing of salons, got my next schedule and noticed I was scheduled at 4 different salons within a 3 week time span! Really? I was also having problems with my paycheck because it wasn't adding up (I worked 'full' time and never made over $500.00/2 wks) and contacted the GM to see if I could go over the check with her, she never called me back. But she found time to call the salon I was working at to see how many haircuts we had done the next day. Poor communication skills, lack of respect. No wonder they have such a high turn over, no one wants to be worked like a work horse and then get absolutely nothing in return for their efforts. Something needs to change, and fast. I am glad I am out of there!

Explore other reviews about Great Clips

5.0
Apr 23, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Great co-workers, good tips, generally busy, clientele overall friendly, management is super cool and will try to be as flexible as possible with your schedule.

Cons

Working evenings and weekends, but that is salon life.

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Great Clips Response
1mo
We appreciate you sharing your experience with us! Thanks for all you do at your local salon, and for being part of our GREAT team!
2.0
Jun 11, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business outlook

Pros

Meeting new people. Good tips

Cons

Low pay. High turnover rate.

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