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A new way to get fired

Not really a discussion.. But something interesting happened the other day...One of the Big changes that I have noticed over the last couple years is... I work in a spa.. We have two waiting rooms...One upstairs, one downstairs. In the past, when we went to get my client they would be reading a magazine perhaps, or a book they brought...But now, they are on Iphones and Smart phones texting. Some text all the way to the massage table.. Anyway the other day a massage therapist got fired for texting during her massage work.

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Permalink Reply by Brian Tucker on January 30, 2012 at 8:47pm

I totally AGREE with you Jason....

Jason David Bratcher said:

More and more we are becoming married to our technology and putting it priority over everything else. Texting while massaging? Are you kidding? Clients not minding the interruption? Seriously,TEXTING during a massage??

We have 6 yes 6 senses, Hearing Taste Smell Touching Seeing and the last and most important of the senses that most of us are lacking these days and thats COMMON SENSE.

enough said

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Permalink Reply by Jessica Weagle on January 31, 2012 at 6:47am

I have had more than a few clients that text while I am working on them

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on January 31, 2012 at 8:50am

I am always so happy when I finally get a regular who answers their cell or texts through the sessions to finally turn it off when they come in. They have recognized their need to unwind and really value the sessions. Sometimes it takes them a long time to recognize it.

Jessica Weagle said:

I have had more than a few clients that text while I am working on them

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Permalink Reply by Sharon Seller on January 31, 2012 at 9:24am

Texting while giving a massage . . . never! Can't even fathom it. I won't even allow my clients to talk on their cellphones or text while I'm working on them. I realize it's their massage, their time, and their money but I'm just not having it! LOL! I have a sign posted in my room where they hang their clothes reminding them to turn off their phones. I've only had 2 clients answer their phones during a massage. Both times I've broken contact and stood at the head of the table with my hands folded in front of me until they finished talking. Both clients quickly hung up and I've never had another problem. I may be in the wrong but that's just one rule I will not bend.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on January 31, 2012 at 9:41am

Hasn't anyone had a person that makes their money from the stock market? There is no way they will relax being unable to trade for an hour when a stock is volatile. They need time to learn that the hour of unwinding and being into themselves is worth the possible loss of 10s of thousands of dollars. In the mean time they know you are helping them.

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Permalink Reply by Pete L Blanco II on January 31, 2012 at 3:17pm

IMO, it's the client's time to do with what they want. If they want to text, so be it. However, it is completely unacceptable for the MT to waste their client's time with the MT's personal business.

Jessica Weagle said:

I have had more than a few clients that text while I am working on them

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Permalink Reply by Jason David Bratcher on January 31, 2012 at 7:17pm

" Ok I am going to step out of the room and let you get settled on the table,,make sure your cell phone is on silent or off, so that "you" are not interrupted during "your" session,I'll give you a couple of minutes and I will be right back :>)) "

This simple saying, put forth in a very supportive way, pretty much gets the cell phone out of the picture and out of the session time. Try it. You may find a new level of experience for yourself in doing bodywork without having to interrupt your flow,and they will also appreciate it more. :)

The client is coming to relax and rejuvenate,that is what they really want,whether they realize it or not. YOU as a therapist can control the situation in such a way that they 1. do not feel controlled and 2. you are supporting them in their safe space to relax and escape from the world for the short amount of time that they are there. You can mandate this for yourself and for your clients. Besides,,you are not a waiter or a barista standing in line taking their order and waiting while they text. You operate at a higher tier than those professions,remember that.

Peace,,

J.

Pete L Blanco II said:

IMO, it's the client's time to do with what they want. If they want to text, so be it. However, it is completely unacceptable for the MT to waste their client's time with the MT's personal business.

Jessica Weagle said:

I have had more than a few clients that text while I am working on them

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Permalink Reply by Kathy Mackay on January 31, 2012 at 10:57pm

I can't imagine texting while working on a client. How incredibly rude and unprofessional. If I were getting a massage and my practitioner were texting someone during my session I would be pissed. Not surprised in the least that she was fired just surprised it was allowed to happen more than once before she was canned.

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Campbell on February 1, 2012 at 1:15pm

I see a lot of differing opinions, but the way I see it is this: when I am the client, I'm paying you for your time. It should be about me for that hour or half hour. If alerted before hand about a forgivable reason to have a phone at hand (such as a single practitioner office and a family member is very ill, say near death) that is a different story. I consider myself very understanding but texting your friends about plans to hang out later is not forgivable and it's simply poor customer service. Just as showing up for work right when our appointment time should be starting and making me wait for you to be ready, is simply rude and tells me that you don't need me as a client.

However, I would look at the facts. If clients do not mind and really enjoy the work the therapist does it's not worth firing over, however, if it bothers enough clients, it's not worth keeping the therapist either.

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Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on February 1, 2012 at 1:23pm

If you are setting rules for your clients they should be made clear when they make the appointment.

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Permalink Reply by Relax & Rejuvenate on February 1, 2012 at 2:16pm

This is not a new way to get fired. Being selfish and rude to your clients is a tried and true way to get fired.

We even had to ban employees from keeping cell phones anywhere other than in their coat pocket or purse in the employee closet. Too often, clients would come in and be greeted by the top of someone's head instead of with a smile.

having a cell phone at the front desk is now a fireable offense on the 2nd occurence. So much for people being in the biz to care for clients...seem all too wrapped up on the latest minutea...

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Permalink Reply by Gary W Addis, LMT on February 2, 2012 at 1:31am

Unbelievable. One of my fellow students watched the instructor like a hawk; if the instructor looked away, this guy immediately dropped one hand and rested the other on the back of whomever he was working on. I asked him once whyinhell he enrolled in massage school if he disliked giving massage. He remarked, hey, I ain't getting paid to work on another student. He just graduated, but luckily for the public he failed his board exam. Lazy as he is, he ain't likely to ever earn a dime giving massage.

Gordon J. Wallis said:

She was texting with one hand and massaging with the other...It wasnt her first complaint about texting while massaging. A repetative complaint... So they fired her... Clients were really pissed off...

Daniel Cohen said:

So Alaska is a right to work state? They were texting while they had the client on the table? I know what I need to take care of and which clients wont mind the interruption. But I work for myself and wouldn't have it any other way.