COVID19  And Massage Therapy:

 Clients expecting massage therapists to work right now is not reasonable or respectful.

Originally we did not have many cases here in Oregon, and the curve finally began to flatten in mid May. My employer gave us the option to return or wait a while. I opted to wait and see. 

 Then June 13th she let me know that she was “Officially ” calling me back for July 1. And -at that time- it seemed reasonable. The number of new cases had been going down.  My boss is awesome and had put as many precautions and safe practices in place as possible. however massage is a lot closer contact for a lot longer than most other activities. Heck- even the grocery store still has a 6ft social distancing rule and plexi-glass in addition to the new statewide mask mandate of July 1.

But then the numbers here and for our entire country started to go up…. and up and up. The daily numbers are now far above what they were in March when we went into lock down. I worked one shift on July 2, and the numbers still went up. I mostly do massage at elbow length, not even arms length, and the clients were demanding and entitled, in spite of our operation policies. I emailed my boss about my concerns requesting more time under the new circumstances. 

Now I am evidently on some kind of “voluntary leave” because of the unemployment rules. Now I cannot get unemployment and have no income at all. I miss my work, my calling, but the numbers are still going up. It is not reasonable to expect us to provide ongoing massage at this time. I do not know what I will do. This seems like an impossible choice to have to make: Risking the health of my family or maintaining an income…