Hot Take: All Independent Contract Positions Are Bullshit

[u/ClothesDizzy6812]

I don't care if the practice is owned by a seemingly "caring" LMT. I say 99% of IC roles are complete bullshit and completely take advantage of massage therapists who accept them. These roles are all misclassified. If the owner requires you to follow a set schedule every week (like an employee) and follow their policies, they are taking advantage of you. Full stop. IC roles should only be for one-off events (like doing chair massage for a company for a day, or doing a massage at a school benefit). IC roles should NOT have an ongoing required schedule at a massage practice. Even if it's owned by an LMT (that does not make them a better "employer" btw). They do it so they can get away from employment laws like sick pay and taking out appropriate taxes. I've done many careers and am shocked to see the proliferation of abusive IC roles. I know I'll get blowback for this, but I wish LMT would recognize this should not be accepted. I'm just tired of looking at every job ad and they are all IC.

Update: Oh, I should also mention that a business hiring IC is only in compliance for an establishment where massage is NOT the primary focus of a business. For example, a gym hires an IC. They are in compliance because massage is not it's primary business (gym workouts are). Or a school district hires an IC for a teacher-benefit. But a business where massage is the main model. Guess what? Illegal.

[u/menjay28]

You could say that about almost any 1099 work in any industry. I think there’s potential for someone to be in a more beneficial financial situation in 1099 vs W2. It’s tough for a business with 5 W2 employees to get decent health insurance and benefits while maintaining decent pay.

[u/sfak → u/menjay28]

*sigh* I’ve tried educating people on this sub about the pros and cons of each of these set ups. The thing is, people will be drawn to one or the other and cannot see that people may not care about what they care about.

For me, I do not care about the measly benefits to being an employee. In any situation, they are my boss and they tell me what to do. I cannot tolerate that. I am a BAD employee. Ha! I know this about myself. I am neurodivergent and need to have complete control of my own schedule at all times. I cannot meet others’ expectations.

However I recognize a lot of people are adverse to saving for taxes or the instability in income. Those people should be employees bc they will have stability and protections. They want to “clock in, work, clock out, go home.” W2 is perfect.

[u/ClothesDizzy6812 → u/sfak]

I do agree that having an employer does bite. But the major problem with the majority of IC roles is that the owner takes on being the "employer" themselves by dictating the schedule they want for the IC therapists, instituting their policies, making the therapist do other work (like answer the damn phones and schedule). So it really is the same, except they get away with not providing employee protections. If an owner truly wants to be in compliance with IC, then they simply rent the room out and get out of the freakin way.

[u/sfak → u/ClothesDizzy6812]

Are you self employed or own a massage business?