Time For A Raise

[massageblog]

One of the things that makes our profession different*from others is the*concept of a pay raise.* It doesn’t look the same as the corporate American pay raise and usually doesn’t feel the same.* When my friends talk about a “cost of*livingâ€￾ increase or better yet, a 5-7% raise, I smile and congratulate them.* But when is it my turn?
Typically massage therapists get a raise when rates increase.* That slight*bump usually only covers*an increase in expenses (rent, utilities, laundry etc.) and is rarely felt in our pockets.* After practicing 20 years, I*never have*more spending money when I raise my rates.* Sad, but true.* I advocate for increases on a regular basis just to keep up with inflation and do so every 18 months or so.* Sometimes the increase is $5 per hour massage, occassionally $10 per hour session.* This is a must if I am going to fight the battle of increased healthcare costs, saving for retirement and well, just paying for food.
Recently I consulted with someone whose staff wanted a pay raise in the form of a change in split (Note:*a split*is legal in the state I am referring to).* The split was calculated based on what he needed to run his business and the working model has been successful for over a decade.* He commented to the staff that they received raises each and every time the rates were increased.* They didn’t seem to understand our industry and why the split couldn’t be changed.* During the consultation, I told the owner that the only way splits usually change is if responsibilities change as well.* More responsibility = larger split.
I bring this to light in case anyone reading this is discouraged and relates to this situation.* Most of us would like*more money.**We all want to feel valued and in our society, money does that.* But businesses calculate splits and rates are set based on what the economy and geographic area can tolerate and how much it costs to run an operation.* If you work for someone, have a conversation with the owner and ask when rates may increase.* If you work for yourself, look at the last time you increased your prices.* Chances are, it’s time for a raise.
Stay focused.
Tags: raise, rate increase, salary, split

 

[Unregistered]

just me

I live in South Florida and am a massage therapist, think this is great well think again. I have lived here for seven years now and had a great job working at a local five star resort until a therapist decided to play games
like thinking she should have all the appts. because she is full time and I was part time. She, by the way happens to be black, I am not racist but this girl was heard many times that they would not fire her because she is black. She began harassing me one day and I was going to let the manager know about it but she was in a meeting so I was going to bring it to her attention the next day, however I never got the opportunity because this girl
decided to play the race game and play her game again by telling the manager that I had pushed her near a computer which was totally false. Her BLACK friend was in the area and stuck up for her when she is the one that
was the one who actually did the pushing. I was escorted out by the manager without given an opportunity to speak my side of the story. To make a long story short I was terminated for violence in the workplace after being a great therapist for almost seven years there but because of the new management there they did not recognize anything about me, So I got a lawyer and he is a good one. I look forward to my check next summer.