Great Staff! Options

[SpaNancy]

Hi Gang,

I haven't been around in a while, and I notice that "the party's over" had been up for a time with no new posts. It sounded sad and depressing, so I thought I'd update to something more positive!

Lets all imagine what having a great staff would be like. I'll try to avoid my usual snarky cynicism or tell the horror stories that are popping up in my mind right now!

I personally don't "employ" anyone, but I do have the occasional massage therapist who will drop by to help out when times are busy. So in my imaginary concept this person:

> Would show up on time, dressed appropriately; having left their emotional baggage at home - or in the car, I'm not that picky.

> Would be well-versed in all the talents and techniques needed to do a great treatment.

> Would smile!

> Would not light any synthetically fragranced candles!

> Would clean up after they were finished with the client and would help fold laundry.

> Would show appreciation.

> Would remain consistent in the above.


That doesn't seem so far fetched, does it? Pretty simple, actually.

[Lisa@Preston]

It sure seems like that would be easy enough to find!

[gael]

It sure seems like that would be easy enough to find!

Easier said than done sometimes! We are out there though, I just took a job at a private club for the summer season. I can't wait to start, I miss paychecks.

[Douglas Preston]

There was this one person, this one time at band camp...

[SpaNancy]

You try to stay positive ...

... UGH! ... here's my rant ... I have a lovely spa with two treatment rooms, one for me and one for an LMT. I don't want to be an employer or to rent it out and have to deal with their schedule and quirks. BUT, I do need more hands when a request for a Couple's Massage comes in, so I try to keep a list of IC LMT's to call in those cases (all the while leaving the option open of IF the right person comes along they could work much more).

TODAY, yet another interview with a massage therapist, who has just graduated, and who chose this profession to get out of nursing. Sounds great so far. I show her the space, she comments on how beautiful it is and that it was not what she was expecting. I asked her what she was thinking it would be and she says "a room in the back of a hair salon".

We begin to discuss things and right out of the gate she says, "What do you charge for a massage?" I answer, "I PAY therapists $30 per 1-hour massage and they receive tips." She went on to ask her question again, so I told her (as if she didn't know from the website and brochure) that I charge $85. I could hear her thoughts ... "that's not 50%". "No, it's not." "Why don't you pay 50%?" I tried to calmly explain to her about how long I had been licensed (25+ years) and in business in my current location (nearly 20 years) and how with the gift certificate programs I am involved with, that once you deduct their fees, then her take really is 50% (more or less). I asked what her current salon charges and she (reluctantly) told me $65 per hour. So, basically she would be making nearly the same amount, but she would be working in a spa and not a hair salon.

She continued on this point. She felt like since she was an RN, she DESERVED more! I told her that I am not looking for an RN - and that she had told me that she did not want to be an RN anymore....

This went on forever.

I finally stood up and told her that I was not going to adjust my payments. If she REALLY was all that fantastic, then she could earn more after proving it.

My mind is made up. I don't want her in my spa. Hell, I didn't even want her GIVING me a massage today. And, I told her basically that - that I was too upset to receive a trial massage from her today. You know what she said, "I wasn't INTENDING to 'give' a massage today." What a ****ing D-I-V-A! [Hey, lady, I'M the ONLY DIVA around here! Go pay your dues and then you can "demand" more money! HA!

We all have similar stories, but I swear, EVERY LMT I have worked with (no matter how short-lived) is just crap at the end of the day. I can't think of even one person who started good, stayed good, and finished good. Not one!

AM I CURSED?

WHY ARE PEOPLE SO DIFFICULT?

[torim]

Hi

Just felt I had to email on this post and the 'party's over post' - sitting on the other side of the fence as a spa employee.
I changed careers to follow a passion to help other people and became a massage therapist, I then discovered spa's and trained again in the Beauty therapy side. I love my job and the business of spa's and have worked for a six star cruise line down to a small two man band operation. For me the most frustrating aspect of working in this industry is the management side. And your experience as an employee often depends on how well the spa is managed and your relationship with your manager. I've worked with some wonderfully organised, committed, inspiring, managers as well as some who should have never been in the business of managing people or have not the experience to run a spa operation.

There are some fantastic, committed, experienced, learning, passionate therapists out there, there really is! I know, I'm one of them, - I love this industry and constantly strive to learn more and be better in terms of service and knowledge, I've worked in all aspects of the business and hope to one day move into a management position myself so that I can lead, inspire and grow a fantastic spa.

I guess at least you found out right from the start that the LMT that you were interviewing was 'difficult' which saved finding out later on, once you had possibly hired her. Good luck with your staff, I'm sure you will find someone fabulous that is as interested in building the success of your business as you are.

[Lisa@Preston]

Thanks for presenting the other side of it Tori, there need to be more therapists like you

[Douglas Preston]

I agree that there are two sides to any story. As a spa business consultant I've encountered owners/managers whose actions and attitudes are the greatest threat to their own interests. Tactless communication, double standards, poor spending habits that jeopardize payroll — it goes on and on. I've had the employees of these owners plead with me for help, to try and get their boss to see how damaging his or her behavior is, and I'd see it for myself, too. But, while you can change policy it's much harder to change an individual. That requires introspection and an open mind. If you believe that your employees are "out to get you" or that you're the only one who really cares about the company, then there will be no chance of forming a cooperative team that can bring the business to success for everyone. This is an age-old struggle between two self-interest groups, between power and those working under it, between commitment and free-will. As a former employer I'm sure my quality rating among employees ranged from "great guy to work for" to "pure asshole." And my employees, in my own opinion, could have been judged as amazingly committed to utterly dishonest. I'm sure most believed I was getting rich off the toil of their back when nothing close to that was true. I made money but no one worked harder, longer or at greater financial risk that my partner and I. Rage, fear, and tears were a regular aspect of managing so many people and trying to pay them on-time, too.

But, as they say: that's business!

[Jaya Savannah]

I guess at least you found out right from the start that the LMT that you were interviewing was 'difficult' which saved finding out later on, once you had possibly hired her. Good luck with your staff, I'm sure you will find someone fabulous that is as interested in building the success of your business as you are.

Yes, torim. And therapists would do well to remember that the job interview is a two-way street! It's easy to let your need for a job cloud your judgement about a prospective employer. It's not all about proving yourself. You also want to make sure you're hitching your star to a successful wagon!