Skindulgence staff donate JobKeeper payments to ineligible team member

Staff at a Hobart beauty salon have kindly been donating a portion of their JobKeeper payments to a colleague who was not eligible.

STAFF at a Hobart beauty salon have banded together to support each other during the coronavirus shutdown, donating a portion of their JobKeeper payments to a colleague who was not eligible.

Skindulgence was forced to shut its doors on March 25, leaving seven employees temporarily out of work.

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The JobKeeper package enabled most staff to continue getting paid, but one employee — a visa holder from China, Abby Qu — was not eligible for the payments.

Owner of Skindulgence Jessica Harris with Chinese employee Abby Qu. Picture: Zak Simmonds

Owner of the Liverpool St business, Jessica Harris, said most of the staff were casuals who worked only minimal shifts.

“We recognised that the spirit of the supplement was to help people. Some of the eligibility rules precluded certain staff such as visa workers from benefiting,’’ she said.

“As a team, we felt we should not profit while other people suffered loss during these trying circumstances.

“Abby is part of our team, and as valued as any other member.

“The government designed this initiative to aid businesses in retaining staff. Thanks to the generosity of my team, it will achieve that.”

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Ms Harris said Skindulgence would reopen on June 15 when stage two of restrictions were eased in Tasmania, which would allow beauty services to trade again.