Hairstylist Says She Was Fired for Giving Discount to Woman With Cancer
A single mother of two who worked as a hairstylist says she’s out of a job after giving a discount to a customer with cancer.
“I’m just in shock because I didn’t think that they would do me like that,” Shaleana White, of Baytown, Texas, told KPRC 2.
After working at the Sport Clips salon for five years, during which time she says she “always came in on time and never called out sick,” White did a quasi-haircut for a customer who was losing her hair as a result of chemo treatments (“I cut just this little area on the bottom of her neck and sides,” she said), and decided it would be right to charge her just $10 instead of the normal rate of $19.
“I just remember giving her a hug and letting her know it was OK and that I would pray for her,” said White, who added that she was recently promoted at the salon.
But a co-worker informed the salon manager of her on-the-fly discount and, on Tuesday, White was fired.
When reached by phone, a manager named Bridget told Yahoo Beauty, “We don’t disclose any information like that about employees,” and referred us to an area manager, who emailed to tell us, “This is a personnel matter and has nothing to do with a cancer patient.” An unnamed area manager told KPRC that White was fired for giving out unapproved discounts, which was wrong; that manager also pointed out that Sport Clips donates to the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, which aims to find cures for pediatric cancers.
And while that doesn’t help White and her daughter, the now-unemployed stylist (who could not be reached for comment by Yahoo Beauty) told the news station, “I just take it day by day and I’m grateful for the successes and failures in life. I will just try to learn from it and move forward.”
What do you think: Should White have lost her job over $9?
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