iValuemassage.com

1. TELL UNDERPAYERS TO "TALK TO THE HAND"

 

In case you are not aware, there has been a vicious cycle that has plagued our profession for the last decade and made it harder for you to find a living wage job.   We as massage therapists can all reverse that cycle but first and foremost there is one thing that has to change and change immediately to allow that to happen and here it is:

Stop working for underpayers. Yes Stop, just Stop.  Even if it means splitting your workload between massage and non-massage work.  Stop. 

 

Yes, I have said it and it may be a difficult pill to swallow, the fact that you paid thousands of dollars to get work part-time short-term, however, in some areas there is a saturation of underpayers from franchise chains to employers who are trying to compete in the "how low can we go to get a client to walk in the door" market and the only way to get them out of the market is to stop working for them. 

 

When you went to school, you didn't study massage so you could be worked to the point of exhaustion for little pay and I doubt that was what was advertised by the school you attended.  Perhaps the school advertised how you could do work you loved and make a good living at it.  But, then you graduated into the reality of the situation and here you are reading this article in search for a solution and a resolution to the plight of low paying jobs in the profession.

 

So here is the solution:  Be a part of the movement of massage therapists who stop helping underpayers succeed in what they excel at, underpayment, overworking, exploitation and repression of career growth and prosperity for massage therapists.  Tell underpayers to "Talk to the hand." 

 

Don't support businesses who don't support you.

 

Let's talk obstacles because I know what you are thinking but how do I find a living wage job?!!!?

 

Obstacles:  The number of living wage jobs are less than the number of massage therapists in your area; aka saturation of underpayers in your locale. 

 

Solutions:  In areas such as these, two things need to happen.   (1) Massage therapists need to work for themselves as single practitioners or start a cooperative (see iValuemassage blog at http://www.ivaluemassage.com/#!valuable-resoures-for-massage-therapy-/cve1).   (2) Start a union at low paying jobs. 

 

Starting a private practice:  Many massage therapists cannot afford to start their own practice or team up with other massage professionals to start a cooperative business practice because they cannot afford the expense of renting space when they haven't yet acquired enough clientele that justifies paying for monthly rentals.  The National Massage Advocacy & Support Network has recently launched a vehicle for space rentals by the hour only on iValuemassage.com.  Therapists can now search for spaces in their area that will rent to them by the hour until they build up enough clientele to rent by the month.  This brand new search engine can be used as a platform for massage therapists to negotiate for their space as well. 

 

For example, if you don't see a space near you listed yet on the site but you are aware of a local business like a chiropractor's office or a massage practice close to you, you can approach the business owner and ask them if they would be interested in renting to you by the hour and encourage them to list on the iValuemassage site by the hour to help massage therapists find affordable rentals. 

 

This is actually a win-win for the business owner because the owner will make more money renting by the hour than by the month and in turn will allow massage therapists to afford to practice privately until they can afford the discounted monthly rental.   Anyone can list their space for free on the website and can contribute to the co op marketing plan of the site by making the suggested $5.00 donation.  All donations are used to increase traffic to the site so more business can be had by its listers.  Donations are accepted by anyone, both listers and non-listers to promote the site.

 

Starting a union in the workplace:  Many massage therapists have talked about starting a union but are you aware that anyone who is an employee can start a union in their work place?  Under labor laws massage therapists are protected to a degree but the problem stems from the fact that many of the needs that we have that are relative to our profession are not protected under the law (e.g. eligibility hours for benefits:  Federal law states that employees must work a minimum of 30 hours a week to qualify but 30 hours a week for massage therapists is beyond our limits to maintain a healthy massage practice).  Another problem is that some companies may be in violation of the labor law but the massage therapist may not even be aware of their rights.  Starting a union begins a process of negotiations for better pay, work conditions and health benefits for employees.  For more info on starting a union, visit our blog at http://www.ivaluemassage.com/#!valuable-resoures-for-massage-therapy-/cve1

 

The Bottom Line:  --Do not be part of the problem by accepting less than fair pay. Without massage therapists the low paying companies have no company - without us there is no them.

 

2.  FIND A JOB THAT VALUES YOUR TIME AND SKILLS

 

Your Time:  Do you feel cared for and valued at your current job?  If the answer is no, why are you still there?  Your time is important.  What other job do you know of where the worker pays to come to work and receives no pay?  Is there any other profession  you know of where the worker is on the job and not getting paid at the very least minimum wage for the time they are there?  Your time is worth something even when you are sitting and waiting for a client to show up.  No pay for unbooked hours is unacceptable and downright criminal.

 

Your Skills:  The average wage at a massage chain is $16.72.  There are fast food workers fighting for a minimum $15/hr wage with no education and zero skill set.  Massage Therapists spend thousands of dollars on their education, in some states they are required to take CEUs, they are required to renew their insurance every year and their license registration and national certifications every 2 or 3 years depending on the state in which they practice.  Their job is both intellectually and physically challenging.  So is it ok to get paid the same as unskilled unlicensed workers?

 

Solution:  Look.  If you are in a job that doesn't value your time and skills find one that does.  They are out there, however, you have to be on the consistent lookout for the job that will value you.   You may need to go on interviews very often.  By very often,  I am not talking about once or twice a month, but more like once or twice a week.  Let people know you are looking so they too can be on the lookout for you.  The universe has a way of conspiring once you take action.  So look and interview consistently.

 

The Bottom Line:  --Only work for fair pay. You are highly skilled, trained. 
--Only work for others who pay at least $30 per massage plus gratuity.
--Seek jobs who pay you for your downtime.

 

3.  TRAVEL FARTHER FOR A BETTER JOB

 

Don't be lazy or let your circumstance intefere with your ability to get a better job.  Perhaps your local area is saturated with underpayers.  Start to search for areas that may be an extra 20 or 30 minutes away.  Sure it might be an extra hour of travel per day round trip but isn't it better to be at a job that values you and pays you what you are worth?

 

The Bottom Line:  -- A fair wage job may be closer than you think.

 

4.  GET REGULAR MASSAGE

 

Practice what you preach to your clients.  Take care of yourself.  Get regular massage.  When you take better care of yourself, you can take better care of your clients.

 

The Bottom Line:  --Only do the number of massages per week that you can handle without injury to yourself over time.
--Take off 2 days in a row every week, to physically recover.
--Go on vacations every year, 2 to 3 weeks.

 

5. BECOME A FIERCE NEGOTIATOR

 

Yes, we can help you and give you all of these suggestions but at the end of the day you have to seal the deal.  You must become a fierce negotiator for better pay and working conditions.  Put together a portfolio that warrants a great paying job and respect.  Take the time to present yourself in a way that a business owner can't resist.  Start by making a list of what you have to offer the employer and why you warrant the pay rate you are asking for.  Use the iValuemassage resources.   If your area is saturated with underpayers, start to challenge them to raise their rate.  Yes, an interview is a negotiation between you and the business owner.   Challenge them to raise their rate of pay and cost of service and encourage them to list on the iValuemassage site.  If business owners understand the fact that times are changing and therapists will no longer work for cheap pay, they will begin to feel the pressure to raise their rates. 

 

The Bottom Line:  --Always negotiate for what you need to be happy and taken care of.
--Don't settle.
--Study the employer before your interview.  Match your portfolio attributes to the job you are interviewing for to seal the deal.
--Always read the fine print:  be sure to get a copy and thoroughly read any documentation before signing it.

 

Remember we were given the gift to heal, not only others but ourselves.  Decide to Love Yourself and Know Your Worth.

 

This article is provided by the National Massage Advocacy & Support Network, in association with iValuemassage.com.  For more information on how you can become an active advocate for massage therapy, go to www.facebook.com/groups/nmasn