Help and advice greatly needed!!

[lashed11]

Hey, I'm hoping someone will read this and be able to offer me some advice!

Basically, for 3 years i have been self employed. I'm a fully qualified beauty therapist and I work free lance and specialise in eyelash extensions, waxing and sports/deep tissue massage, and that's all good...

But I also work based from a Physio clinic 2x week where I do deep tissue/swedish massage. Meaning most weeks I work a 7 day week... In the clinic I literally do hour after hour of massage, 6 or 7 hours non stop-or with a half hour break, and it's slowly killing me! Also, I'm a contractor, so I have to give the clinic 50% of whatever I make from massage... Is this too much?!!! They deal with all the bookings, I basically just turn up and do all this massage...and give them 50%...

Iv started to really dread going in, not only is it exhausting, but I feel like they dont really care about me- for example I put a break in my diary and they move it to suit clients that want that time- which is why I end up massaging for bloody hours without a break. It's hectic- there is no down time between clients to clean up, so I have to work between 2 rooms so I don't run late- so when I finish one client I literally walk out the room and take my next one in another room while my other client is getting up and changed... Now, the thing is, iv been thinking about leaving, when I think of the money I can make with my freelance clients, and I compare it to a days work in the Physio clinic it really makes me want to leave- BUT the reason I havnt yet is because it's almost guaranteed fully booked every saturday, so almost "guaranteed" income for me. Whereas my freelance work is not guaranteed (as we all know)... Help!

Ideally I would love to leave this clinic and focus on my freelance stuff full time, I have my regular eyelash clients which are all going very strong, but I need to draw in more clients and provide more services... But I don't know what?

Iv just done a threading course and im booked on my crybaby course, and I'm looking into spray tan, and was considering gel nails... Does anyone have any advice on treatments I can provide? And should I jack in this clinic or persevere until I build up a clientele for new treatments?

Sorry for the rant but I'm really indecisive about this!!

 

[Kate1982]

Hi chick
Firstly I feel you pain. I used to work in a spa and would do assages all day every day. I am an employer muself and I can guarantee you that if you are as busy as you say then it's obvious that that you are good and massage and therefore valueble to the clinic.
If I were in your position I would book a meeting with the manager and tell them that your body is under too much stress from all the massage. Tell them that you were considering leaving however you appreciate the stability of the position and would just like to better manage your time there. Give them a limit of the number of massages you are prepared to do. Tell them this in non negotiable. Your wrists are your most valueble tool. Please don't be worried about confronting them from what you have said I very much doubt they will want to lose you.
As for them taking 50% I think it is fair although I would probably want 60% myself.
Please believe that you are valuble to them and it would be a shame t leave something you are good at before you try to tell them your concerns.
xx

 

[lashed11]

Thanks for your reply

I'm just so rubbish with confrontation (pathetic, I know), I do also feel like they look down on me because I'm "just a beauty therapist", whenever I have made suggestions in the past about room layouts/cleanliness of the clinic/rough towels/promotions or anything, they never take it on board! Also, today for example, a client who is 6months pregnant called to book in for a deep tissue massage... I explained to the receptionist that I'm not trained in treating pregnant ladies, and it would make me uncomfortable to do so, and the manager (who is a Physio) came up to me and said "it's easy you just do it with her on her side", expecting me to be fine with it? I refused.

Also, I had to take some time off when my dad was terminally Ill, and I got called "unprofessional" because some of my clients needed to be rescheduled...


I think I just feel a bit under valued which is why I'm considering just leaving....but it does make sense to talk to them first and see what happens X

 

[soriminah]

Thanks for your reply

I'm just so rubbish with confrontation (pathetic, I know), I do also feel like they look down on me because I'm "just a beauty therapist", whenever I have made suggestions in the past about room layouts/cleanliness of the clinic/rough towels/promotions or anything, they never take it on board! Also, today for example, a client who is 6months pregnant called to book in for a deep tissue massage... I explained to the receptionist that I'm not trained in treating pregnant ladies, and it would make me uncomfortable to do so, and the manager (who is a Physio) came up to me and said "it's easy you just do it with her on her side", expecting me to be fine with it? I refused.

Also, I had to take some time off when my dad was terminally Ill, and I got called "unprofessional" because some of my clients needed to be rescheduled...


I think I just feel a bit under valued which is why I'm considering just leaving....but it does make sense to talk to them first and see what happens X

I would have been out the door by now. Especially expecting you to massage outside of your training.

They obviously don't value your skills and training. I'd have a chat and if things don't change then leave.

 

[eskimonailtech]

It's a really unfortunate but common occurrence in the massage therapy world.

PLEASE heed my warning. I suffered a severe fall in December of 2010 and returned to work full-time about a month later. I advised my employer that I needed scheduled breaks and to not book me for more than a certain amount of massages a day.

Instead, they blatantly disregarded my pleas and treated me like an assembly line worker. My back got so bad to the point where I was in the emergency room being treated for a severe compression of my spine causing me to essentially be paralyzed. Granted, I would have been fine without the prior injury. Not a single person at my work cared that I was in the main trauma center. They just cared that I wasn't there to make them money. It disgusts me.

My point is, is that if you do not take care of yourself and let them dictate your health, you may end up with a disabling injury like myself. I was in the hospital in May and I am still on serious medication and deal with the crushing pain continuously. It's a very hard thing, emotionally and physically. I feel robbed of my life. I'm mad that my injury happened in the first place, and mad that my
FORMER employer didn't listen to me.

Please, please, please listen to me. I spent 2 years of college learning massage therapy and will never be able to do it again. Save yourself the future pain and get out of there. You can suceed on your own and you deserve better than that.

I wish I could hug you!! Please take care of yourself!!