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Wage theft

Hello massage and bodywork followers.

I'm in middle of pursuing a class action lawsuit against the company I'm currently working for. I personally got ripped off! I was suppose to be getting paid more than $20 an hour, instead the company only offered $16 an hour with no benefits or paid vacation. I've been working with the company for 2 years. I've been practicing for 6 years. I feel that all massage companies are offering their therapists low wages even if you practice more than 5 years and still getting ripped off. The massage companies are very very unorganized from every spa or any franchise company with their policies. I'm thinking of starting my own business. We need a revolution to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. I'm very concerned about the future. Should I stay and find another job? What are my options?

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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on July 14, 2016 at 1:02pm

It's Interesting, It's costing more and more to get a massage license. The certification exams, continiuing education requierments. Yet the compensation seems to be going down to a near minimum wage deal for some folks. Yet there is great money out there for soft tissue work, even if you are just out of school. One of my friends works in a chiropractic clinic with several other therapists. They get paid $45 for every hour of massage they do. Usually five to seven massages a day. The chiropractor bills the insurance company $245 per one hour of massage. These are mostly auto accident patients. So, if you had your own place and could get referals, say from a couple of medical doctors. You could bill the insurance companies $245 an hour for massage work. Of course running your own business cost money. And easier said then done. But still.

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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on July 14, 2016 at 3:25pm

Stephanie, I certainly agree with you about raising the minimum wage nationwide-- for one thing, the economy in every state that has instituted their own much higher minimum wage has grown. (Increasing wages does NOT pull down the economy!)

Regarding your situation, Stephanie, $20 per hour, was that for a 40 hour week, or for hours you had a client? If the former, an hourly wage for full time hours of $16-$20 is pretty good. But if you earn that per massage given, and for only that hour, $20 is ridiculously low. As a sole practitioner, you can charge as much as your local market will allow; locally, that is from $75 to $150 per hour-- and the therapist gets to keep it all. Ummm, but business expenses would also be yours alone. Going solo is a big step ,so step carefully. However, if you prefer the "cover" of an employer, begin making the rounds, resume' in hand, to DC and PT offices and pain management clinics that have all medical practitioners under one roof. And don't pass up other independent MTs, who may be in need of someone to help pay the overhead.