MASSAGE EMPLOYMENT SPOTTY AT BEST

by SANDRA JOY
(DELRAY BEACH FLORIDA USA)

WHERE I LIVE IN SOUTH FLORIDA, IT SEEMS THERE ARE VERY GREEDY PEOPLE WHO SEE A LARGE INCOME TO BE MADE OFF THE SWEAT OF A THERAPISTS' BROW. MOST HOSPITALS WHO HIRE THERAPISTS IN THEIR WELLNESS CLINICS PAY LESS THAN $10/HR. CHIROPRACTORS ARE THE WORST-THEY CHARGE WELL OVER $100 FOR A THERAPIST'S SERVICE, BUT ONLY PAY BETWEEN $10-20/HOUR AT BEST-MOST TRY AND PAY $7.50/HR. SALONS AND SMALL SPAS WANT YOU TO PAY RENT OR GIVE THEM AN EXORBITANT FEE PER TREATMENT; IF THEY PAY YOU IT IS USUALLY ON A 80-205 BASIS WITH THEM TAKING THE LION'S SHARE. LARGER SPAS PAY BY COMMISSION, AND YOU ARE LUCKY IF IT IS 20%, WHILE THEY CHARGE WELL OVER $100 PER SERVICE. RARELY WILL YOU GET ANY KIND OF BENEFITS AS THEY WILL TRY AND SAY YOU ARE A SUB-CONTRACTOR.

I WONDER WHAT OTHER PROFESSION TOLERATES A MIDDLE MAN TAKING OVER 70% OF THE INCOME GENERATED FROM THEIR WORK AND TALENT?

AND, NO ONE WANTS TO HIRE YOU FULL TIME TO AVOID ANY POSSIBILITY THAT YOU CAN CLAIM THEY OWE YOU ANYTHING. THIS MAKES A THERAPIST SEEK EMPLOYMENT WITH SEVERAL ESTABLISHMENTS IN ORDER TO HAVE ANY KIND OF INCOME-THIS MEANS YOU ARE TRAVELING A LOT, AND THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF WHAT KIND OF MONEY YOU WILL EARN FROM WEEK TO WEEK.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT TIME THERAPISTS JOINED A UNION. THE PUBLIC DOESN'T KNOW THIS IS HOW IT IS, THEY THINK THE THERAPIST IS RECEIVING THE RECOGNITION AND INCOME FROM THE WORK THEY PROVIDE. WE WILL BE SUBJECTED TO THIS EXPLOITATION UNTIL WE STAND UNITED AND SAY WE DEMAND WHAT IS OUR DUE.