massage and bodywork professionals
a community of practitioners
Ethical or not
Views: 281
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Daniel Cohen on
-
To me it is standard business ethics that you don't give preferential treatment in exchange for goods or benefits (beyond the value of the service). In this case it goes further. He is asking for an escort without the expense plus a guarantee that you will drop everything when he wants a massage without an up charge. He may or may not hope after you have been out a few times that there will also be sex (once you are enjoying "the good life").
The ethical way to do it is to charge perhaps $150 - $200 for his massages as an upcharge to cover availability. This is to cover inconvenience, lost business etc from meeting his schedule with limited notice.
Where does the six month rule come from? If you stop charging a client for massage they are no longer a business client. Six months is often used for non-competition clauses in business contracts. Since you "partnered" with the Chiropractor on what brought the person to you, I think ethically a one time finders fee would be the question. Unless you had a prior agreement that any new clients from the promotion would belong totally to you or the Chiropractor.
Being flown with a celebrity or group for massage isn't a perk but the job requirement. Total time away is what pay should be figured on.
-
Permalink Reply by Karen Spence on
-
Wow...uhm...since you are already questioning it, I think you have your answer. He sounds like someone I would never do business with
-
Permalink Reply by Relax & Rejuvenate on
-
You're kidding, right?
-
Permalink Reply by Stephanie Keffer on
-
I wish I was kidding. Yeah I thought it was the weirdest request of anyone I have met. I have had the whole marriage proposal thing mainly from women as a joke but this I had to do a double take to see if i heard him right.
-
-
The six month clause is something I read when I first joined ABMP. Yeah I just wanted other Mt's opinions on this craziness because if I put it up on Facebook I know everyone would be like dude do it. I like the idea of charging him $200 to cover the expense of a missed appointment. I am thinking of starting to charge people in general if they need me to work on them early in the morning or a 7pm too.
Daniel Cohen said:
To me it is standard business ethics that you don't give preferential treatment in exchange for goods or benefits (beyond the value of the service). In this case it goes further. He is asking for an escort without the expense plus a guarantee that you will drop everything when he wants a massage without an up charge. He may or may not hope after you have been out a few times that there will also be sex (once you are enjoying "the good life").
The ethical way to do it is to charge perhaps $150 - $200 for his massages as an upcharge to cover availability. This is to cover inconvenience, lost business etc from meeting his schedule with limited notice.
Where does the six month rule come from? If you stop charging a client for massage they are no longer a business client. Six months is often used for non-competition clauses in business contracts. Since you "partnered" with the Chiropractor on what brought the person to you, I think ethically a one time finders fee would be the question. Unless you had a prior agreement that any new clients from the promotion would belong totally to you or the Chiropractor.
Being flown with a celebrity or group for massage isn't a perk but the job requirement. Total time away is what pay should be figured on.
-
-
There is always a grey zone. I would agree with Daniel that you are essentially being paid as an escort. I would think that charging him more just sets the price. Winston Churchill once asked a woman if she would go to bed with him for 10,000 pounds. She said yes, He then asked how about for 50 pence. She replied "what type of woman do you think I am", His response: Ma'am we have already established that, now we are negotiating the price"
But on the reverse, I have a client who is a professional tennis star who sometimes flys me out to his games and put me up in a nice hotel and pays expenses - but I only see him on the massage table and me in the stands and him on the courts.
Thus, counter propose: You will fly out for a price - but you will see him only on the massage table with him fully draped
-
-
A few red flag words he used:
Mistress
Gorgeous
Show You Off
-
-
I know he is not kidding, but are you kidding even considering this?
If he really wanted you to be available for him for massages only at his convenience, I know 10,000 MTs that would be happy to be on a "retainer" and give him preference. Would be financially more advantageous for him than all the expense of these non-date dates, which tells me he wants the regular kind of mistress, who also happens to give a good rubdown.
-
-
Yeah exactly. With my clients that are musicians I get into their shows for free but I am there to work not do Jager shots.
The red flags are just that red flags. I doubt I would of considered this I am just more shocked his boldness to come out and say that. One thing in this field you never know what a client will say to you. I can't tell you how many middle aged women have proposed to me or mentioned they wanted to take my magical hands home with them. I just chuckle it off in good fun.
Sandy said:There is always a grey zone. I would agree with Daniel that you are essentially being paid as an escort. I would think that charging him more just sets the price. Winston Churchill once asked a woman if she would go to bed with him for 10,000 pounds. She said yes, He then asked how about for 50 pence. She replied "what type of woman do you think I am", His response: Ma'am we have already established that, now we are negotiating the price"
But on the reverse, I have a client who is a professional tennis star who sometimes flys me out to his games and put me up in a nice hotel and pays expenses - but I only see him on the massage table and me in the stands and him on the courts.
Thus, counter propose: You will fly out for a price - but you will see him only on the massage table with him fully draped
-
Permalink Reply by Jeff Shearer on
-
Hi Stephanie
I think you were right to make your decision. These kinds of situations may be grey areas for some but are really a stepping over the line of a professional relationship. I agree with Daniel if the guy wants preferential treatment then charge him accordingly.
In many cases these situations end up with you being left out in the cold and there being no real advantage to you anyway. And it did sound like a very suspect offer.
I make it a rule to never date a client regardless of how long I have been seeing them. It is just not worth the grief you may find yourself in. People can be lovely when they want something from you but can make your life incredibly difficult if they feel hurt. Keep it professional as you have and don't blur the lines.
Great dilemma and thanks for sharing it. These issues a great to dialogue so we can get a clearer picture for ourselves.
Regards
Jeff
-
Permalink Reply by Laura Allen on
-
Run, do not walk, away from this situation.
© 2024 Created by ABMP.
Powered by
