hair stylist

Donato Salon and Spa

Pull up a chair because I was employed with the company for four and a half years and you dont hear that very often when working for a company like this one. 

In those years, I have seen a HUGE turnover with staff from all departments (from spa, hairstylists, front desk, call centre and the latest department, management). When I started working, the company was well structured and very organized with lots of supervisors micromanaging areas in Square One (marketing, inventory, call centre, front desk, salon, spa) and also had managers for his other locations at Yorkdale and Don Mills. By the end of 2018, the company had two remaining managers at Square One, one at Yorkdale and one at Don Mills, that were qualified to be managers and actually listened to both staff and client concerns. Between when all of those managers left and up until now, the company has gone through 4 different managers to run the salon at Square One (three of the four, were fired) and 0 managers for both Yorkdale and Don Mills. The owner has not bothered to find people to help run all the other areas of the salon and locations. Turnover rate is honestly unbelievable and I have never seen people come in and out like no tomorrow. Front desk and call centre typically have staff that are there for at least a year (if you're lucky, just a little more than a year) otherwise they dont make it due to leaving or being fired. 

Due to a lack of management team, current existing management along with the owner, take advantage of staff, more so the front desk and call centre. If you prove what you are capable of and show them you can do more than what your job says without difficulties, they become comfortable and start giving you more tasks or treating you something more when your pay doesnt reflect that. Ive seen people take on tasks and been told their pay would be discussed after three months which is a lie, because those people quit right after. I was in that position for a while and took me a year to get some type of compensation. Especially now during a pandemic, dont expect a worthy pay raise anytime soon.

The owner, dear God. I have never worked let alone met, someone who is VERY money hungry and straight up rude. He has belittled his staff so many times and even to the good management team he had who were running his business for him and now he's left with garbage management and cant even find a salon manager to help run his salon and stay there for more than a year without being fired. He only appreciates people who suck up to him even when he does or says something morally wrong, so when you try to call him out on it or suggest something different, you are see as the villain and its one of the many reasons why his qualified staff leave because they would rather work somewhere else no matter what the job is, than work for an egotistic man who only cares about money and not his staff at all. He manipulates people thinking he cares about staff when he does not. If you work on the management team, he puts the blame on HIS business failing on YOUR shoulders. Ive seen him so many times say "this is our superstar call centre agent/receptionist" when he is trying to impress business people but the moment you're alone with him, he is scolding you like he is your parent. Due to being an overall, God awful person, he is the reason why he loses good staff from service providers who were bringing in the money or management who helped resolve problems in a timely matter before clients start writing the most disturbing reviews you will ever read.

Overall, working at Donato's only gives you some administrative experience that you can take for future jobs that will actually pay you well. Its a shame to work for a place like this when you have amazing staff and genuine relationships with them but work for an owner who is so stuck up and honestly, dumb on business decisions. I am glad for leaving because the workplace is so toxic with a man like John Donato, I always left work feeling negative and never in a good mood. If you made it this far, please understand your worth and can do so much better than working here.

Working at Donato was somewhat enjoyable, the receptionists, stylists and colour techs, and the spa personnel were all a blast to see and talk to everyday; that is until you see a manager. a couple were alright when face to face, however when you turn your back to them BEWARE. I was let go because and I quote " you were too happy..." unfortunately I didn't exactly perfect the sour face they all had.
The Salon manager was famous for her foul expression and snobby attitude. In Seven months I saw her smile twice. once when she was getting a make-over. and the other was by some sort of miracle.

The owner is even worse. He only liked you if you sucked up to him, if not.. you were black listed. at first he seemed genuinely nice, until you actually get hired. He is rude, cheap, snobby, (which seems to be a running trend among management) and he has his assistants hold the hair up for him while he's working instead of using a CLIP.

I did however get certified in 3 classes, 2 of which they paid for, and the last I had to pay for because I was terminated. ($500) on top of losing the job.

*** Do NOT SIGN the Contract!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
3 year contract, if you quit you get sued. and if you get terminated you have to pay for everything that they said they would pay for.

The most enjoyable part of the job was working on a Sunday, solely because the sour managers and the owner would never show up there on a Sunday.

If I could give one star I would. Easily the worst place I’ve ever worked. Had to leave because it really affected my mental health. Everyone is out to get you and you can’t trust anyone especially the management. I was severely bullied everyday at work told that I had an ugly face and to wear more makeup. Sent home for texting a client the location of the salon. Wrote the manager a personal and private letter about how I was being targeted by one of the instructors and she showed it to the whole staff. Had to deal with someone taking credit for my work online. The list continues. I was even told to go into the mall(square one) and buy I different outfit to wear as mine was “ugly” terrible co-workers and the worst management teM I’ve ever worked with. themanagement

Unfortunately, my expectations were shattered, and what should have been a fulfilling journey turned into a nightmarish ordeal. The primary instigator of this tumultuous experience was none other than my unqualified supervisor, who proved to be detrimental to the entire team. Instead of fostering a supportive and nurturing environment, my supervisor lacked the necessary qualifications and skills to effectively lead our team. Their lack of knowledge and experience was glaringly evident, and it had a profound impact on our collective morale and productivity.

A very stressful situation! Employees regard them with disrespect because they "rule" with FEAR. They take full advantage of your situation. They have high expectations of you, literally expect you to do everything and won't offer help if you need it. If you intend to use these reviews to help you make a decision, make sure you read them thoroughly. Such a waste of a good year of my life!

Pay is awful. It feels like the company doesn't care about you for anything else other than how much money you can make them. You will be punished for lack of clients, lack of sold products, not tacking on extra services when it's out of your control. If you've worked in any professional salons before, you'll immediately view this place as ridiculous. 

I really like our clients, and most employees have already developed good relationships with them. But the problem is that almost all of us hate the management. The managers don't know how to lead, and they are very judgmental and rude. They are disrespectful towards us for no apparent reason. I'd like to leave this place, but my great clients are making me second guess my thoughts. 

It is the worst salon you can work for. The management is insane, terrible, and extremely arrogant. They don't respect employees enough to talk politely with them. They offer an awful working environment, and many senior employees are hostile, and disrespectful. The management will never see their mistakes. So, you should be wise and avoid working here! 

Severely poor upper management that uses lies, manipulation and bullying tactics to guilt-trip, verbally abuse, and use employees, often promising a lot to gain employees, and never fulfilling their promises. High turnover rate of great employees/hard working, lovely staff, because of awful upper management.

The CEO and management team at the company exhibited a pattern of behavior that was characterized by a lack of respect and disregard towards their employees. This treatment made many workers feel devalued and insignificant, as if they were worthless and unimportant, which in turn led to a decrease in engagement and motivation. 

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