a community of practitioners

Unlicenced massage practices in NY

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/scare_the_rub_We3eYx3nAm4NYKM...

All LMT's, Please read this article.

Is there ABMP NY. What can we do about these "Foot Rub" places opening up everywhere in NY. Unlicenced and hurting clients.

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Lisa on April 23, 2010 at 8:05am

Aiste how can you make such a broad assumption that any place that has "rub" in their business name is unlicensed? Have you actually gone to a few to really see for yourself? just curious.

Aiste Bella, LMT said:

Daniel, you are right. This article is big part of the issue: reporter does not know (or maybe intentionally) is advertising illegal practices. If you see sign "Back Rub and Foot Rub" here in NY - you will be treated by unlicenced. They think, if they are writing Rub instead of Massage - it's not covered by the same laws. It's sad that not everyone in the States lives under the same laws.

Daniel Cohen said:
From the article everything seems ok. Just cheap competition. The workers in these places are probably the same as here in California. They are here to make money to send home to China. They are helping out Mom and Dad who are on a too small government pension or to buy a home. They may have come under the pretense of marriage only to disappear into the Chinese massage network. Since they do not set their hours and work to long for the boss to do anything else they must be called employees not independent contractors. They want to optimise their income, so do not pay taxes or carry insurance. These are business law violations and mean unfair competition. It also is part of siphoning off dollarsto China to the tune of over 3 million a year in L.A. alone.

Is this just ordinary business? People are willing to look the other way just to get such a bargain.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Emmanuel Bistas on April 23, 2010 at 8:44am

Lisa, I don't know what "when you walk in you feel like in a doctor's office" or what the writer's definition of "medical" is. I find it highly unlikely that these people are licensed therapists charging $42/hr in the city with the highest rents in the country.

If these people are indeed licensed by the New York State Board of Health as massage therapists, I am absolutely okay with it. But if they are like some places in Chicago, and from the description and Aiste's mention of 'foot rub' places, it sounds like they are, then I think there is lot to be concerned about.

You wrote: "...and again, I'll state that it has been my experience in what I've read that many of the MTs...".. I am curious, where did you read that?

To bring this back to the point of establishments operating outside of the law: Do you think that people who touch people in the context of therapeutic massage should go to school, pass a licensing exam, have an occupational license, and take continuing education hours to renew their license? Do you think that massage establishments should hire licensed massage therapists, follow labor law and pay legal wages?

Lisa said:

I read the article again and AGAIN...where does it say anything about the places being unlicensed? To Emmanuel's point the article specifically says:
“...When you walk in, you feel like you’re in a doctor’s office.”
The clinical treatment doesn’t end there. After you’ve signed a release form and filled out a medical history, you’re ushered into the communal back room.

This doesn't sound to me like unlicensed OR "...no draping, no intake forms, no consideration of contraindications."

and again, I'll state that it has been my experience in what I've read that many of the MTs that ARE offering "extra" ARE licensed.