Threatened pay 50,000 on late arrival

“Forced to work eight hours without a break – can’t even change tampon”

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Employees at Rapide’s beauty salons sound an alarm about maladministration.

Threats of fines of SEK 50,000 on late arrival, long passes without a break and agreements that lock the employees to the company.

– Most of us are young and inexperienced. The company uses it, says an employee.

In recent years, Rapide has grown and is described as one of the leading beauty companies in Sweden.

At Rapide you can do treatments such as lashlift and threading of brows- in the 19 different brow and French salons found in Sweden.

Among other things, at NK in Gothenburg and Stockholm, Emporia in Malmö and Mall of Scandinavia in Solna.

– It’s sick because customers think they get luxury, luxury, luxury. And they do not realize that they receive treatments performed by a person who earns SEK 135 per hour, who hardly has an education or knows what it is doing, says an employee.

Aftonbladet has talked to over 20 employees and former employees at Rapide.

They testify to long and stressful work sessions. Several employees and former employees say that they cannot, among other things, be able to go to the toilet, take lunch or breaks when they work, something that Expressen also reported on.

– Several of the salons lack access to running water and toilet. So if we need to go to the toilet we have to leave the salon, but it is a big no no. The manager does not let his staff leave the salon, says an employee to Aftonbladet.

Another employee says:

– For one day I can have between ten and 15 customers booked in ongoing bands. Although I asked for the toilet, the managers have said no. It does not matter if I need to change tampon, is bad in my stomach or if I want lunch break because I’m swine hungry.

Several also say that they themselves have brought water to work.

– I always bring a filled water bottle to work. If I forget it, I can’t drink all day. But at the same time, I try to drink as little as I can, because I don’t want to risk being pissed off.

Threatened pay 50,000

Several employees and former employees also say that there is high pressure to arrive on time – as managers threaten a fine of SEK 50,000 on late arrival.

– Several of the salons are located in malls or shopping centers. So Rapide must follow the rules of the shopping centers. One rule is that the salons are fined if they open late in the morning.

Several store managers say that they have been asked to tell their employees that the cure can be deducted from the staff’s salary.

– I myself have told people to push them to arrive on time. I am not sure if it is even legal to send the shopping center’s cure to an employee? Many people are very affected and have difficulty sleeping before opening passes, says a store manager for Aftonbladet.

Not afford to resign

Employees also sound an alarm that the maladministration goes beyond customers, treatments and hygiene at the salons. Read more about this.

Several say they have chosen to work at Rapide, because they cannot afford to resign.

– We have signed agreements that keep us hard linked to the company. If we end within six months, we will be liable for repayment between SEK 5,900 and 8,000 for the two -day “training” we received. But it’s not even an education. We don’t even get any certificate or diploma for going it.

They also say that they have given up their right to work at other companies that run operations linked to treatments for brows and lashes.

– Even though you have an education and experience since before we arrived at Rapide, we must not work at any other company for six months from the termination. We must also not start our own.

She continues:

– So no one can afford to go six months without a job, which is why we stay at the company.

Leaves the industry

Already in November 2024, about 30 employees merged and signed a call for the lead on Rapide.

Aftonbladet has taken note of the letter, which consists of a several pages long document with testimony and requirements for better working conditions.

– But we got no hearing, says an employee.

Several of those that Aftonbladet talked to are now thinking about leaving the beauty industry.

– After working at Rapide, it no longer feels like an industry to me. It has been my dream to work in the beauty industry. But now I’ve started to think about it. I don’t want to work under these conditions.

Fact witness goals

Read more “Continue to develop”

In an email to Aftonbladet, Rapide’s press department responds to the criticism.

“It is clear that we need to continue working on developing and investing in communication and leadership in the company, a work that has already begun. Rapide has a new chairman of the board since last spring and since December 1, a new external CEO is on site. Individual conversations have been conducted with all leaders and in January the first step was launched in a new leadership training for our store managers, the training will continue in the spring.

The company continues:

“We also plan regular follow -up employee surveys and that we will implement a whistleblower function to be able to capture experiences like those described in the letter in a safer and faster way for the sake of our employees as feedback does not always have to go through the nearest manager and can be given anonymously .

Read Rapide’s answer in its entirety here.

Facts Intintern criticism against Rapide

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