Salon Noelle

Initial Business Response /[redacted]/
On May 3, 2015 I received an email from [redacted] stating her notice to leave the business, and that would she would provide at least 30 days notice.
My response simply stated since she was paid up in rent through June it would make sense to consider...

her last day June 30th, that way she would have plenty of time to find an alternative location should she need it.
[redacted] decided on her own accord to leave the business on May 10, just 7 days after providing her initial notice. [redacted] is now demanding a pay-back in the rent she had already paid. Her reasoning in leaving early is due to her own begrudging ways and personal hostiity.
On behalf of myself and my Salon Manager, we never acted inappropriately towards [redacted] or her clients. We were both very taken aback by her reasons for leaving the business, all of which were laid out in an email and all very personal. Examples include hurt feelings over not being invited to Mexico for my bachelorette party, not being asked to babysit my newborn son, so on and so forth. None of her reasoning was business related. Furthermore, [redacted] sent several texts to myself and Salon Manager at very late and inappropriate hours of the night, which happened to be very catty, condescending and hurtful. We both chose not to respond to her texts, and that explains the rationale for keeping our distance with [redacted] in the work environment. We were never mean, we just chose not to respond to [redacted], and instead went about usual business operations. Us choosing not to respond and engage at an immature level is what [redacted] is referring to as making her uncomfortable. If we had engaged in the workplace, I imagine very unkind things would've been exchanged back and forth and that is in no way acceptable when clients are present.
I never agreed to pay her a pro-rated amount in rent because she is the one who decided to leave, and she is the one who decided the timeline of her departure. Had [redacted] followed through with her guarantee of providing a 30-day notice, the circumstances would be different.
I agreed to pay half the cost of the Sonos speaker, and she received the payment via check just a week after vacating the space.
As for paying the cleaning crew, I asked [redacted] when she left to please discontinue the cleaning service as we would no longer require those services for our space. [redacted] neglected to do so, which meant the crew still showed up and provided services as usual. At first, being frustrated, we weren't fond of the idea of paying them out as we had already requested a termination in services, but since the cleaning crew had no idea we would no longer be needing their services, we of course still paid them for the job they had completed. There was never a 'firing' that took place with the cleaning crew. We simply no longer required their services and knew we'd be taking on additional cost in rent now that [redacted] had vacated. It was more so a budget cut based on business needs, rather than a 'firing'.
In regards to furniture damage, our rugs and furnishings have color damage that is irreversible. We have stained carpets, rugs, and furniture that will need to be replaced eventually. [redacted] contributed to the damage of the rugs and furnishings, and she knew full well when she spilled color on our furnishings that they would need to replaced, which requires money, which is why the furniture deposit was set forth to begin with. Pictures are attached for reference.
In conclusion, [redacted] made the decision to leave the business within one week's notice based on personal reasons. [redacted] had already paid rent through June, therefore the space was just as much hers as it was ours through June 30, 2015. [redacted]'s notice on May 3rd indicated she would provide at least 30 days before leaving, yet a week later I unexpectedly walk into our place of business where [redacted] had vacated the space and taken all her belongings with her. [redacted] should've known full well leaving early would mean forfeiting the cost of rent she had already paid. It's not my responsibility to repay her because she couldn't manage to continue working in our place of business beyond 7 days from her initial notice. She felt the need to make a quit exit, and with that, comes forfeiting the cost that had already been paid for the space. All of this was unexpected and sudden, and it would be unfair to penalize me because of [redacted]'s decision to leave the business abruptly out of personal angst.
Initial Consumer Rebuttal /[redacted]/
Some of the things Noelle has listed are completely embellished and I would like to see proof of such exchanges. I would also like to see the pictures with damage. I have been there a year and if there is color on anything, most likely she had something to do with that too. These are copies of email exchanges and text message exchanges between the salon owner and salon manager and myself. I never said anything rude that wasn't said back. Noelle and Leigha both continued responding and had never discontinued contact with me unless it was whether I could get my money back. The email below specifically has her telling me that if I am out by the Monday indicated she will pay me back. I don't expect to get any money back from this business as it is not in her personality to be wrong or to give in. I just wanted it noted that this business does not pay it's dues. Get everything you can in writing. You don't want to end up in Small Claims Court like I am.
Text Messages:
Salon Manager to me (5/20/15) If you wouldn't mind notifying the cleaning personnel that we no longer require their services, that would be great. They came this weekend. (this was the first time I ever received word to let them go and yes, Leigha does have their contact info as they have her's)
Me to Salon Manager:
I just got word that the cleaners were not paid for the last two times. I added $50 to my may rent and Noelle was going to pay the other. These guys are hard workers and I would hope you wouldn't take advantage of them because you're upset with me. Thanks
Salon Manager to Me:
[redacted], Please direct your concerns elsewhere as I'm not involved with paying the cleaning crew.
Salon Owner to Me: Cease and desist your drunken texts to Leigha. It's harassment. If you have things to say to me, you say them to me. Tell your cleaning lady that we are done w her services, as she is your contact. If she would like to contact me so I can settle up with her, you can give her my info.
Way to go on being an adult.
Salon Manager to me (5/28/15)We are sending a check to the cleaning crew. I just need a name to make it out to.
Salon Manager to me: 5/29/15: Stay away from our property. No silly business [redacted]. I have eyes everywhere. (This is in May, where Noelle has indicated that I am paid up until the end of June, but yet I am told to stay away)
Emails: (Start from the bottom up)

From: Noelle Benjamin
Sent: May 5, XXXX X:XX pm
To: [redacted]
Perfect! Since you said you'd give 30 days notice, you will receive your check at the end of this month.
Thanks,
Noelle Benjamin
salon noëlle
XXX-XXX-XXXX
[redacted]
Sent from my most amazing iPhone. Please excuse any imperfections. Thank you!
On May 5, 2015, at 1:26 PM, [redacted] wrote:

I spoke to Rob and he wants me out of this situation worse than I do. If you can return the pro-rated amount in rent and half of what I paid for the Sono's receiver I will hopefully have my things out by Monday.
Sent from Windows Mail
From: Noelle Benjamin
Sent: Tuesday, May 5, XXXX X:XX AM
To: [redacted]
Bully you out?!? It must be so tough to play the victim all the time. I didn't call this exit, you did. Based on things you made up and ran with in your head. This is business, not personal. June 30 is your last day because I have someone else to fill your space. There is no need to drag this along and that is plenty of time for you to find somewhere to go.
Thanks.
Noelle Benjamin
salon noëlle
XXX-XXX-XXXX
[redacted]
Sent from my most amazing iPhone. Please excuse any imperfections. Thank you!
On May 5, 2015, at 8:03 AM, [redacted] wrote:
I can and will not make any promises. Believe me I don't want this anymore than you do, but I am not going to rush something like this. I didn't give you a heads up so you can bully me out. There is nothing in writing that says you can. I could have just not told you and walked out, but I didn't so give it a rest. When I babysat Sawyer for you the night before I had to be on a plane at 7 am the next morning and you asked if there was something you could do for me, this would be it.
Thanks!
Sent from Windows Mail
From: Noelle Benjamin
Sent: Monday, May 4, XXXX X:XX PM
To: [redacted]
Since you are covered for this month and you paid first and last mo rent, we are paid through June and let's call your last day June 30. I don't need this to be looming anymore. 2 months should be plenty of time for you to find alternative accommodations.
Thanks!
Noelle Benjamin
salon noëlle
XXX-XXX-XXXX
[redacted]
Sent from my most amazing iPhone. Please excuse any imperfections. Thank you!
On May 3, 2015, at 10:33 AM, [redacted] wrote:
I am responding to your texts via email because I can usually express myself much better in email than I tend to in person or over the phone. I am aware that email has no tone, so please know that I am writing this with an open heart and mind and am not angry in any way. I am just expressing how I FEEL and not accusing anyone of anything, creating misconceptions or innuendo's.
Obviously, this is not working but I have nowhere to go right now so I am going to continue to work at the salon, act as if nothing has happened until I can figure out what I am going to do and where I am going to go or until we get kicked out by the new owner. Whichever comes first. I will absolutely give you good enough notice. At a minimum, 30 days. I will treat you and your clients with respect and professionalism as I would expect the same. I will not talk about you and will not go out of my way to make you feel uncomfortable in any way. That is not who I am anyway.
My RSVP to your wedding is "No." I just don't think I would feel comfortable going.
Before I end this email I do want to address something you mentioned in your text in that I don't handle our business and friend relationship correctly and this floors me. I FEEL that I have been a great friend and that is just sad that you think otherwise. I think things have just built up for me. Not being invited to the bachelorette party and then hearing you guys talk about it for the past few days has hurt my feelings. I know you both weren't doing it intentionally. It just hurt. I feel that I have put myself out there for you as a friend by offering to babysit, buying you gifts, inviting you to events, etc. I have worked in every environment that you have created for me with only one complaint and that I apologized for. It's hurt that you have never asked me how my mom is doing, what is wrong with my heart or intestines, you probably don't even know what my daughter's middle name is. If you do know these things then I apologize. You have just never asked. I don't feel that I have ever, not once in all the years that we have known each other told you that you are a bad friend and business partner or called you a coward for expressing your feelings. I just wanted to know what was going on with the salon and to know before your client. Is that really so horrible? Sending the text the way I did was wrong as was yours. It's obvious that we don't see how we treat each other through our own eyes. We could go back and forth and it's just is what it is. I hold no ill feelings towards you in any way and I hope you feel the same.
[redacted]