Between The Lamps: The Importance of Properly Training New Staff

Starting a new job is an exciting time. For any new employee, the first couple of days are crucial for setting the tone. Not only are you meeting new co-workers but you have to learn new surroundings, and new procedures, all while presenting yourself favourably.

For salon owners, formalize a training plan to help you and your managers walk a new employee through the job requirements. A well-trained team who is educated about sun and skincare will reinforce the salon’s credibility and professionalism. Since it is known that people have different leaning styles that work best for them, the best way to learn depends on the person. So the best approach for a salon owner to take is to include a variety of learning styles with their training plan.

One of the many challenges new staff face is getting up to speed on all the knowledge that’s already demonstrated by their co-workers. Consider the following tips when training new staff:

- Give Them a Training Binder: Full of literature about company policies, tanning equipment, lotions, your salon’s ads, flyers, customer cards, daily record sheets, etc. A sample of everything their expected to know or work with, will help them learn during their downtime. They can review the binder’s materials at home, helping to break the employee in slowly to prevent them from feeling overwhelmed.

- Schedule a One-on-One: Salon owners need to know the trainee’s concerns, plans and issues regularly. Hallway conversations are not enough. A weekly structured meeting to discuss their “High’s, Low’s and Need to Know’s” is a good idea. Also be sure to take your one-on-one time to explain your staff expectations to them. Especially when it comes to carefully and thoroughly cleaning equipment after each use.

- Embrace Your Company Culture: Include the new employee into your salon’s culture from the get-go. Invite them to a meeting or social event even before they start their first day of work. This helps them learn co-workers names, what they share in common, and how the salon has evolved. This is a huge way to help seamlessly immerse them into the culture.

- Assign a Buddy: Connect the new staff member to shadow a seasoned employee who gets things done and knows all the ins and outs. This is a great way to help them really understand why certain methods are done a certain way, as well as ask any silly questions they are too embarrassed to ask the salon owner. Have the buddy stress the importance of salon rules, such as never extending tanning times or allowing clients to tan without protective eyewear. Also, the quicker your co-workers bond with each other, the more comfortable you will feel when being away.

- Training Seminars: Provide educational opportunities for all staff members to learn information and network with other salons. Whether it’s a first time or refresher, these seminars can include learning about skin typing, the tanning process, the industry, sales, lotions and equipment offered at your salon. Employees who take their knowledge to the next level will become tanning advocates who effectively teach and train customers.

Are You Doing the Right Things?

The JCTA has guidelines in place for their members to follow. Even if you are not a member you should be following the key points to make sure that we are being responsible to our clients. For a complete list of our guidelines visit www.tancanada.org

Tanning Salon Checklist

  • Do not tan Skin Type 1. This is a skin type that always burns and does not tan
  • Skin type every new client when they come in our salon (The JCTA has a standard skin typing form we use)
  • Clients under the age of 18 should have written parental consent
  • All salon operators shall be certified and trained by an JCTA approved course
  • The operator must be present during the operation of the tanning equipment
  • Follow manufacturers’ exposure schedule on the equipment and limit the clients exposure based on that schedule and their skin type
  • Every new client should sign a warning and release form
  • The tanning beds should be controlled by a trained operator and that timer should be located outside the room
(Token operated or beds where the client can set their own time are not allowed)
  • All the labeling of the beds complies with the Federal Radiation Emitting Devices (RED) Act Part XI
  • There should be an emergency off switch button for the clients’ use while in the tanning bed
  • Every client shall be provided eyewear; the eyewear is specialized for the tanning industry and should be sanitized between every use

If you have any questions about anything above, please feel free to contact Uvalux or the JCTA. We are happy to help you be as responsible and professional as possible.