? about spa employment

[sunnyD]

Is it just me or does anyone else find this strange? I was hired to work in a Spa and yesterday was my first day. When I got there the manager informed me that I needed to wear heels to work because everyone at the Spa wears heels. I don't know about anyone else but I sure can't massage anyone wearing heels! She also asked me to have my eyebrows waxed to look more "professional", and I should think about cutting my hair to be more "stylish". First of all, there is nothing wrong with my eyebrows I keep them plucked. Secondly, I prefer to wear my hair long and I keep it clean, neat, and wear it up while doing massage so it's not hanging in my face. I have never worked for a spa before so I was wondering if this was normal?
Also, when I was hired I was told I would be a 1099 employee(IC). But when I got there yesterday I was told I would be working from opening until closing 5 days a week. Even though I told them during the interview I wanted to work part time 4 days a week. I only get paid for the time I actually do massage, but they give you "sidework" to do when not working on someone. Like laundry, filling supplies, sweeping. She even had me giving free chair massage to people in the waiting area (to help build my clientelle). I thought IC's set their own hours etc, it seemed to me that I was being treated like an employee. I worked for 9 hours and when I got home I broke down what I earned for the day and divided by nine and it came to $7.28 an hour ( a far cry from the $30.00 I was told I would be making). Is this what usually happens in Spas?

 

[Woody.]

No, this is what happens when you work for morons, who manage to run all sorts of businesses, not just spas.

Dress codes are not unusual - and often for good reason - but there is no good reason for heels.

If you only get paid for massage time, legally, you have to be paid for any other duties you peform - laundry, sweeping, phone answering and free chair massages.

As an IC, you have to agree to the terms and conditions in the form of a contract, such as hours you will make yourself available to take work. The spa can stipulate that you will not deviate from those hours without notice, they cannot dictate how and when you work. You have to agree to it. It is not a one-way street.

They are violating several aspects of labor law and are treating you as an employee.

Chances are, you won't get them to see things your way, no matter that the law is on your side. Even if you do, they will resent you for making them change their ways and it won't be a pleasant place to work. That is what morons - not spas - do.

You are best off finding a new place to work.

Regardless of whether you are an IC or an employee - the terms and conditions of your work should be in writing and provided in advance of your first day.

 

[Tink42]

:iagree:

R&R said it much better than I could have. This place is trying to treat you as an employee but yet pay you as an IC and the part about the high heels is just ridiculous!! There is no way anyone could or should be massaging in heels.

I'd find a different place to work. I'd also be tempted to report them to the IRS just because they are as R&R but it morons.

Angie

 

[Rosemarie K]

Run for your life. But sure - first tell them you need all that in writing so you can go home and memorize the rules. Then quit, and you have something to use in your complaint that they can't back out of.

You'd spend more than you made, keeping your eyebrows waxed and your hair done to their liking....on your own time, I'm sure.

 

[Monk]

Run for your life. But sure - first tell them you need all that in writing so you can go home and memorize the rules. Then quit, and you have something to use in your complaint that they can't back out of.

You'd spend more than you made, keeping your eyebrows waxed and your hair done to their liking....on your own time, I'm sure.

:iagree:

I am sorry to hear about your first day at the spa from hell. What a dissapointment! Run, Run, far away from that place.

 

[Charly ~ !]

The way I look at it is that you are totally being used and abused. As an IC you shouldn't have to do all that busy work if it doesn't totally pertain to you only. You also should be able to set your own hours at your own discretion.

I can see having a dress code but the heels things is ridiculous.

 

[DIESEL]

:dogrun: :dogrun: :dogrun:
This place sounds dreadful, and most likely will not get better. Save yourself.

You'd spend more than you made, keeping your eyebrows waxed and your hair done to their liking....

Not to mention all the bodywork you would need from working in heels for criminy's sake.

 

[Laredo]

Is it just me or does anyone else find this strange? I was hired to work in a Spa and yesterday was my first day. When I got there the manager informed me that I needed to wear heels to work because everyone at the Spa wears heels. I don't know about anyone else but I sure can't massage anyone wearing heels! She also asked me to have my eyebrows waxed to look more "professional", and I should think about cutting my hair to be more "stylish". First of all, there is nothing wrong with my eyebrows I keep them plucked. Secondly, I prefer to wear my hair long and I keep it clean, neat, and wear it up while doing massage so it's not hanging in my face. I have never worked for a spa before so I was wondering if this was normal?

Are you workin at my old place of employment????? LOL! It sounds so much like where I used to work! We had to wear black, our shoes needed to cover at least 20% of our feet (who can figure out if it is covering less!?!?) No "flip flops" because my boss HATED the sound they made. We were "encouraged" to have our hair cut, colored, and styled by the stylists there. We were "encouraged" to "experience all of the services we offered at least once" (by encouraged I mean expected/forced and we had to pay for it. not full price, but still!)
OH and heres a kicker- My boss hated the sound that change made when dropped into the drawer, so when the reception gals were counting out their shift they had to slide the coin from the desk into their hand so as not to tick her off.

Needless to say, I am not there anymore. Although I was an employee (and an excelent one at that!) and I did know that I was going to be making x amount of dollars per hour (not nearly enough for what I did there) they sent me home early on a regular basis. I was told I would be working 35-40 hour weeks (it was a brand new place and didn't have a lot of clientel, so I was making an hourly rate wether or not I was massaging.) BUT I would really only ever work 28-30 hours.

Find another place to work quickly. Even if you do abide by their rules, it will only break your spirit in time. There are many other better places to work. I found one before I even left that dreadful place!

 

[PUB25]

I have an interview tomorrow elsewhere and I am not going back. Couldn't force myself to put those heels on this morning! :shock:

 

[ello!]

We had to wear black, our shoes needed to cover at least 20% of our feet (who can figure out if it is covering less!?!?) No "flip flops" because my boss HATED the sound they made!

Uniforms - even something as simple as wear all black - make lots of sense. As the corporate world has learned, leaving ":Business Casual" up to individual taste/judgement can lead to some disastrous results and potential wardrobe malfunctions.

Shoes should cover 80% of your feet! I never want to open my eyes while in the face cradle and look at some feet straight out of a character from Lord of the Rings! Judgement on adequate foot care is right up there with appropriate attire - unless you are getting regular pedicures from the spa staff, but even then bare toes should not be seen. Gives a very bad vibe regarding the spa's cleanliness.

The sound of flip flops is annoying to me, but more imporantly I think my spa's clients would find the sound annoying as you padded down the hallway past the treatment room. Flip flops are cheesy and inappropriate.

We were "encouraged" to have our hair cut, colored, and styled by the stylists there. We were "encouraged" to "experience all of the services we offered at least once" (by encouraged I mean expected/forced and we had to pay for it. not full price, but still!)

What better advertising than to have a client compliment your hair and you be able to tell them one of our co-workers did it?!?!?!

At the very least, think of it the other way around. How would you feel if all the non-massage employees told their clients how great their last massage was, and then they tell them they go to Cindy at Joe's Spa and Salon across town and pay full price for her service?

The LAST thing I as a business owner want is my employees putting more money into the pocket of the competition. Giving a discount is smart, but every employee has a stake in the success of the business -- not being sent home early or laid off. If all the MTs get their hair done at Joe's and all the Stylists get their spa services at Joe's, how long do you think it will be before all of your massage clients end up at Joe's? Drive into a parking lot at a GM factory and see how many non-GM cars you see? HOw many Pepsi employees buy Coke or eat at Coke-contracted eateries? For that matter, try buying a Pepsi in Atlanta or Wise potato chips in Dallas.

 

[Bob]

I have to agree with some sort of uniform in a spa setting. We had smocks that were provided, and we were told to wear black dress pants and black shoes/sneakers. The spa I worked at, we were encouraged to try the makeup line and hair products and of course services. During training though, we were more then able to try the service for ourselves. How else to describe it to clients?

Discounts should be offered though, that is only fair. But trading during slow times is a good way to try a service too.

 

[ek 5]

At the spa where I work, management makes the estheticians do massage rather than say no one is available and lose the $$. (We have 8 LMT's)

Last week one of the estheticians was crying and arguing with the owner because she was afraid to do a 80 minute Hot-Stone massage couples massage that she was assigned to do with me.

The owner told her she needs to be "more flexible". I'm leaving there soon...

 

[Morgaine]

At the spa where I work, management makes the estheticians do massage rather than say no one is available and lose the $$. (We have 8 LMT's)

No one "makes" anyone do anything. Both participate by mutual consent.

You are implying that the customers can't tell the difference between an MT's massage and an Esty's massage. If they could, the spa would lose business, which is precisely what you claim the spa is trying to prevent by dragooning Esty's into doing massage.

I don't think the point of this thread was to dredge up every horror story of spa employment (I could fill a few pages with horror stories of spa employees).

 

[Ottawa Mike]

The LAST thing I as a business owner want is my employees putting more money into the pocket of the competition.

While I can understand this sentiment, let's be real. Most spa employees can't afford to pay spa prices. Most likely they're not going to the competition to pay $100 for a haircut, they're going to a mid-priced salon that they can afford.

Employers don't own their employees. Yes, they can control their behavior while they are at work, but they can't control their life. I really doubt that Coke employees are banned from eating at Taco Bell, KFC or Pizza Hut. Perhaps they make a personal decision not to (at my house we buy coke products because we own coke stock but if my son is coming to dinner, I buy him Mountain Dew because that's what he likes), but something like that can't be mandated.

I think we can all agree that businesses have the right to impliment certain policies such as dress codes. The point of this thread was that the OP was asking if this particular spa's dress code was reasonable. I think we can all also agree that asking a massage therapist to work in heels is unreasonable.

Angie

 

[Ana-Maria]

While I can understand this sentiment, let's be real. Most spa employees can't afford to pay spa prices. Most likely they're not going to the competition to pay $100 for a haircut, they're going to a mid-priced salon that they can afford.

Which is why most employers offer employee-rates for all services.

In our case, we don't do hair, but one of the major hair salons added some treatment rooms and is aggressively promoting spa services. Our employees would be doing our business - and themselves - harm by patronizing this establishment vs. hair-only establishments.

Owning stock is a little different than receiving a paycheck, benefits and having a career.

 

[Blueberry Head]

my very first spa job was alot like what you are describing as far as heels, (I have a really old post on here somewhere about that), lipstick, hair and fashion show. Now don't get me wrong I can be a girly girl and like to dress up, but heels and massage don't go together in a legit place anyway! Fortunantly for me I was doing the reception job while in school and waiting to move into the massage position. I saw enough that I turned down that massage job and went on my way. Most places will ask you to wear black, look professional and look like you care what you look like. Which is fair. Don't stick around this place though. Sounds like unreal expectations and also they have misled you on the $$$ end. Don't give them another chance to continue to take advaneforum.xxxe.

 

[Deacon]

Crazy, is this the usual??

Sounds pretty crazy to me. I may be seeking work soon as a "employee" at a day spa or chiro. office, etc. I sure hope this isn't the typical work "stuff" a body worker has to deal with??

 

[dado]

At the spa where I work, management makes the estheticians do massage rather than say no one is available and lose the $$. (We have 8 LMT's)

Last week one of the estheticians was crying and arguing with the owner because she was afraid to do a 80 minute Hot-Stone massage couples massage that she was assigned to do with me.

The owner told her she needs to be "more flexible". I'm leaving there soon...

And that's the exact reason why I do not go to spas to get a massage. Too many places have untrained individuals giving massages. It's like me giving someone a manicure.

Having an untrained person do a hot stone massage is dangerous. I've seen people burned by hot stones at a spa and it was not pretty.

 

[madcowbutcher]

At the spa where I work, management makes the estheticians do massage rather than say no one is available and lose the $$. (We have 8 LMT's)

No one "makes" anyone do anything. Both participate by mutual consent.

You are implying that the customers can't tell the difference between an MT's massage and an Esty's massage. If they could, the spa would lose business, which is precisely what you claim the spa is trying to prevent by dragooning Esty's into doing massage.

It's called "penny wise and pound foolish". You're right, they are causing what they think they are preventing. Customers can tell the difference. But *some* owners don't know enough about it to realize that. It happens in a lot of industries, not just spas. Ever try checking out of a grocery store that doesn't have nearly enough cashiers, so they call a stocker up to run the cash register, but the stocker doesn't know how......? I go to the store that cares enough to staff the place properly at 5 PM. I know a lot of people who do, and the corporate office doesn't know or care that they lose business - they're too busy not paying two more cashiers that $8 an hour......

I'm pretty sure the spa clients would notice the difference in a massage given in heels compared to a massage given with proper footwear, too - if they've ever had a massage done by someone with good shoes on.

 

[Marky]

The LAST thing I as a business owner want is my employees putting more money into the pocket of the competition.

While I can understand this sentiment, let's be real. Most spa employees can't afford to pay spa prices. Most likely they're not going to the competition to pay $100 for a haircut, they're going to a mid-priced salon that they can afford.


Angie

I worked at a cosmetics department of a large store for 5 years and we had what was called "gratis". Simple concept: we got free product from the company so we could wear it and tell the customers. We also were allowed to take testers. Store employees can't afford to buy $25 eyeshadow on their paycheck, even with the employee discount.
Same with spa services for employees.