Employer wants to be an "additional insured" on my

[This is my avatar]

How common is it for an employer to require the therapist to add them as an additional insured party on the therapist's liability insurance? I had never heard of it before a recent job interview.

Also, since I still have insurance at the student level, I'm assuming I would have to pay to upgrade to professional before I could add someone to my policy (even though my current policy doesn't expire until September). Is that correct?

Thanks.

(I have not accepted the job, they have some odd policies and other red flags).

 

[Star S]

I have everyone working at my place list me as additionally insured. And I have always done that for the owners whose places I have rented out of, etc. It usually costs between $10-20 to do (your expense, but you could ask them to reimburse that.... why not?) It will probably say somewhere in your contract that your insurance will be considered primary if any incidence occurs to you or your clients while working there. (i.e. a client of yours has a reaction to a lotion, etc you use, or even if they slip on the tile after getting their massage, etc.)

Its not too much a biggy, really. How many members out there have ever actually had to have their insurance companies/policies stand for them in an incident.

Choose your battles with this company, if you wish to work there. You mention they have odd policies, yet you are still insured at a student level. That leads me to think you are new-ish to the profession. There will be circumstances (even after years) that will always strike you as odd, imperfect, sticky, insulting, etc. If its a place you are truly interested in, contracts & agreements should be a win-win situation for both sides. Meaning, even if compromises have to be made, you need to be very happy with the arrangement, or move on & look to the next interview.

Good luck. Sounds like you are getting ready to make the big leap... its not as scary as you think! ha ha. Wishing you lots of good fortune!
Jill/sagetherapist

 

[yogirl66]

Thanks for the advice Jill. Yes, I am new, I just graduated. I never heard about the addtional insured policy in my business classes at school, so I was wondering how standard it was.

I have another topic here in the business forum about this same place's policy of booking their clients based on a predetermined pressure rating given to each therapist during their practical interview. I still think that one is odd.

Also, they pay what I feel is low: $23.00 to the therapist for a $70.00 massage. I know I am just starting out, (and frankly I can't afford to be choosy, I need a job NOW) but I also don't want to end up somewhere where I will become bitter and resentful. They also have a non-compete contract that would limit my ability to work anywhere else in the area while I was working for them, and for a year after leaving. There are way too many opportunities for me here to limit myself like that, especially for a job that doesn't pay that well IMO.

 

[Pompal 09.]

They also have a non-compete contract that would limit my ability to work anywhere else in the area while I was working for them, and for a year after leaving.

Unless you mean the non-compete prevents you from working with any of their client list while you work with them and for a year after leaving, DO NOT TAKE THIS JOB!!!

If you ever decide to leave you will be forced to move out of the area, and start all over, or else be forced to take a job completely out of the field for a YEAR after termination of employment.

This is a REALLY bad contract. The AIEs are normal, but the non-compete is unacceptable if you really want to be a massage therapist.

Stacey

 

[Yourasssmells.]

why is that so big? There's no "big" code in my post... :?

I'm not shouting, really... well... I kinda am, and maybe standing on the sofa shaking my fist at that company just a little... :evil:

 

[Kamukhamopwetko]

The contract says I can't work doing massage within 3 miles of them during employment and for a year after. They are in a really popular and highly populated area of town. Three miles would severely limit my job options elsewhere.

Isn't that type of restriction actually illegal in some states?

I completely agree with and respect a contract that protects them from client "stealing" but not the rest of it.

The interviewer said we could amend the contract and mentioned that she doesn't think she's even looked at hers. !?!? I can't imagine not taking something seriously that I was going to sign.

 

[Raging Female]

hey gessika,

the only piece of advice i'll add to this is...

you say you can't afford to be choosey. as far as i'm concerned, the stance you should take here is that you can't afford NOT to be choosey! don't take a job just being thankful to have one. accept a job that will be thankful for you!

(have them tweek that contract a bit too! you never know what will happen so you want to be sure you look out for yourself)

 

[Louise]

Non-competes and other policies

Non-competes are a product of the hair side of the salon/spa biz. They don't want a stylist walking across the street and taking their clients with them.

I have yet to hear of a Spa fighting over a massage therapist to prevent losing the clients to a competing spa.

AIs are common and not to be concerned

 

[Mel (:]

I work in an arrangement that is a combo of renter/IC out of the clinic at the school I went to. They asked that I add them to my insurance. I have ABMP, and I'm able to add up to 3 establishments at no charnge, and after that, it's $10/establishment, I think. (I've never tested the latter part, though, as I've always only worked for myself and at the school.) I think it's a CYA move on the establishment's part, but it hasn't proven detrimental to me in any way.