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Irish Government extends EWSS following new Covid restrictions

The planned cut to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) has been reversed by the Government, following its decision to impose new Covid-19 restrictions. They came into effect on 7 December and are due to remain in place until at least 9 January 2022.

The higher EWSS rate will now stay in place until the end of January, followed by planned reductions until the end of the scheme on 30 April. The full EWSS rate is available for all businesses, but they must show a 30% reduction in turnover.

In addition, the Covid Restrictions Support Scheme (CRSS) has been extended until the end of January, while the commercial rates waiver has been extended until the end of March.

Meanwhile, the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) has been reopened with five rates of PUP payable, which will be determined by the person’s weekly earnings.

There had been some speculation that the latest Covid restrictions would see vaccination certs being required in hair and beauty salons, however just gyms, leisure centres, and hotel bars and restaurants have been added to the list of places where the certs are now mandatory.

PB/HJ Ireland Awards to take place in

The inaugural Professional Beauty and Hairdressers Journal Ireland Beauty, Hair and Spa Awards will be held at Citywest Dublin on the evening of Sunday, 6 November 2022.

As part of the annual PB/HJ show weekend, and in a brand new venue, the Awards are organised by the team behind the Professional Beauty Awards and the British Hairdressing Awards, and will recognise beauty, hair and spa professionals for their business acumen and creativity.

After numerous lockdowns and the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, they are a fitting way to showcase and celebrate the exceptional talents within the industry in Ireland.

All entries will be judged independently by industry experts who are selected for their knowledge and skills.

With eight categories for beauty and eight for hair – split to recognise business and creative skills – sponsors already committed include ATAI, iTEC/VTCT and Schwarzkopf Professional.

Blow salon opens new Dublin outlet on UCD campus

Blow has opened its fourth location in Dublin, with the latest outlet situated on the UCD campus in Belfield.

The salon brand was founded by Noelle McCarthy in 2002, with the aim of providing hair services to clients outside of regular working hours. It began operating early in the morning so busy professionals could get to the salon before the office, and it also opened later in the evenings and on Sundays.

With the first Blow opening on Baggot Street, its outlets are now located on Leeson Street, the InterContinental Hotel in Ballsbridge and in the Dunnes Stores flagship branch on Henry Street.

The new Blow in UCD is offering a range of the brand’s specialities, such as the blow-dry bar, hair extensions, the Brazilian Blowout, colouring and cutting. Beauty treatments are also available, including make-up, nails, lashes, tanning, facials and massage.

According to McCarthy, the salons have never been busier. following the lockdowns.

“The single most important thing that helped us get through Covid was our clients’ support,” she said.

Habic partners with Women’s Aid to tackle domestic abuse

A new partnership between the Hair and Beauty Industry Confederation (Habic) and Women’s Aid is aiming to educate staff in the hair and beauty industry on how to recognise the signs of domestic abuse.

MARGARET O’ROURKE DOHERTY, CEO OF HABIC (RIGHT) WITH LINDA SMITH, WOMEN’S AID 24HR NATIONAL FREEPHONE HELPLINE MANAGER (IMAGE: PAUL SHARP/SHARPPIX)

As part of the campaign, Habic member salons received packs containing resource materials to support and educate teams and clients, including posters outlining the 10 common signs of domestic abuse.

Stickers are also being displayed on salon mirrors, containing QR codes that will direct clients to the 24hr National Freephone Helpline and the Women’s Aid website. According to EU research, one in four women in Ireland in a relationship have been abused by a current or former partner, and it is hoped that hair and beauty businesses can play a role in raising awareness among those who may need support.

In 2020, 29,717 contacts were made with Women’s Aid’s frontline services, during which 24,893 disclosures of domestic abuse against women were made.

“When someone discloses that they are experiencing abuse, it can be difficult to know what to do,” said Sarah Benson, CEO of Women’s Aid. “Quite often people are afraid to say the wrong thing. Our campaign provides helpful resources on recognising abuse and how to respond in a supportive way. We know that with the right information, salon staff can make a big difference in someone’s journey to safety.”

According to CEO of Habic Margaret O’Rourke Doherty, the industry body will focus on supporting its members by giving salon staff confidence and resources to know how to respond when someone does confide in them.

“With a largely female workforce, we also want to ensure our members feel supported at work, and can access the necessary supports if they need to,” she added.

Irish Government announces new law on distribution of tips

The Irish Government has announced plans to introduce a new law to protect employees’ tips, and to provide transparency on tips to customers.

The law will come into place this year as an Amendment to the Payment of Wages Bill, with the aim of providing clarity on the meaning of tips, gratuities and service charges; and placing tips and gratuities, but not service charges, outside the scope of a person’s contractual wages.

It will also oblige employers to display prominently their policy on the distribution of both cash and card tips; and to distribute fairly, equitably and in a transparent manner, tips that are received in electronic form, such as through debit or credit cards, or smartphones.

“This new law will give workers legal protections over tips,” said Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar. “It will mean that any tips received cannot be counted towards an employee’s basic pay.

“I know many people are sometimes unsure how, or if, tips and service charges are distributed, especially when paying by card or phone. Once this law is enacted, all employers will be required to show clearly how tips and service charges are dealt with in a business.” professionalbeauty.ie

IN BRIEF

■ Olaplex has announced the appointment of Mark Coates as its new international education manager. Coates has been working in the hair industry for over 25 years, developing his educational, technical and creative skills with companies and brands such as TONI&GUY, Aveda, and Bumble and Bumble. Some of his career highlights include working on New York, London and Paris Fashion Weeks, along with Fashion Rocks, an annual international charity fundraiser event. His work has also featured in a number of trade and consumer publications. Coates said that he is looking foward to working in an environment where he can connect with a forwardthinking team.

■ Dr Emma Clinics has opened a new branch on Dublin’s Merrion Square, offering non-surgical techniques with a bespoke skincare regime and nutritional advice. There are already two other Dr Emma locations in Newry and Slieve Donard Resort & Spa in Northern Ireland. Having qualified as a dental surgeon from King’s College London, Dr Emma Cunningham worked in cosmetic dentistry, before developing an interest in a holistic approach to aesthetic medicine. The new clinic in Dublin will offer a range of facial, body and dentistry treatments.

■ The finalists for the Glammies by Great Lengths 2021 have been revealed, with the event set to take place on 7 February 2022. Among the Ireland finalists are Edwina Hayes in the Enviable Volume category, and Lynn Knox in the Captivating Colour category, who are both from Kilkenny’s Streetlife Hair. Linda Thornton from Lynda T Hairdressing in Wicklow is a finalist in both the Captivating Colour and Creative Innovation categories. Knox is also a finalist in the Republic Of Ireland Hair Extension Salon/Freelancer of the Year category, along with Lisa Cantwell from Plush Hair in Waterford; Brid Whyte from Hairology in Carlow; Jolene McCarthy from The Hair Room in Blanchardstown, Dublin; and Niamh Kiely from Marbles Hair & Beauty in Limerick.

This article appears in the January/Feb 2022 Issue of Professional Beauty & HJ Ireland

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  COPIED
This article appears in the January/Feb 2022 Issue of Professional Beauty & HJ Ireland