[Bec688]

Today at work I had a client come in for a facial, all was well until we got into the treatment room. I start my consultation with my client to then realise she has the flu. She was coughing and spluttering and sniffing like crazy.

I explained to her that due to her being unwell I couldn't perform her treatment and that we would have to reschedule her treatment at a later date for when she was not sick. She got all huffy and told me that was ridiculous and I was inconveniencing her because she lives half an hour away and she didn't drive all that way for nothing and I was wasting her time, etc etc.

I pointed out to her that on the very top of our client consultation card it clearly states our policy about illness and that we have the discretion to turn clients away if they are ill.

Just for reference, this is what our policy says:

For the health and wellbeing of our therapists, we reserve the right to reschedule your treatment if you have a cold, flu or other viral/chest infection on the day of your treatment.

It's written in big bold letters and even has it's own box around it, you can't miss it!

Anyways, she storms out of the treatment room, and a few moments later, she comes back in, WITH my boss, and my boss repremands me IN FRONT of the client! Telling me that this is one her special clients (my boss is a naturopath) and that she was incredibly embarassed that I had refused to treat the client and it's not up to me to make those type of decisions and that I will be doing the treatment anyway!

It was so humiliating! I was absolutely livid with my boss , we have always been told we are allowed to decline a treatment if we felt they were sick enough to jepordise our own health, and she was!

So I ended up having to give this woman her facial anyway, and she was coughing and sniffing and breathing all over me - just what I need when I'm leaning over your face!

I personally think that it's incredibly selfish and rude to come and have a treatment when you are that sick, especially if you know that the therapist is going to be in such close contact to you. Also, why would you want to have a treatment if you were sick either?


When my client left, I decided to speak to my boss, I told her that I thought it was unacceptable for her to speak to me like that in front of the client and that if she wanted to speak to me about my actions that she should have done it in private. I also said that we have that policy in place for a reason and I shouldn't have to put my own health at risk like that.

She said that the policy is a loose policy and that we can't really turn clients away and she doesn't really want to as it means she would be loosing money.

Nice, money is more important than the wellbeing of her therapists.

I was very polite when I told the client I couldn't do her treatment and I really don't think I have done anything wrong.. I think my boss was being such a *****! Urgghhh I am getting angry again just thinking about it!

I had to vent... thanks for listening girls.... rant over.

[Anthea]

That sucks, you were only following company policy and you were within your rights to refuse the client. Your boss sounds like a nasty piece of work, that shows absolutely no respect to you and also your well being. Not sure what you can do about it, other than to find other employment. Not so easy I know.

Sorry you been put though this, I sure hope you don't catch that persons cold

"hugs"

[speedy]

That is disgusting, I would have been furious too! And are they going to pay you sick leave if you get the client's flu?

I'll bet if you'd had the flu the client wouldn't have wanted you to be giving her a facial, so it's not fair that she'd expect you to give her a facial when she has the flu, and why she'd want one when she's sick I don't understand either!

[Bec688]

Originally Posted by speedy

That is disgusting, I would have been furious too! And are they going to pay you sick leave if you get the client's flu?

I'll bet if you'd had the flu the client wouldn't have wanted you to be giving her a facial, so it's not fair that she'd expect you to give her a facial when she has the flu, and why she'd want one when she's sick I don't understand either!

Despite working practically full time, I'm still casual. So if I get sick, and need to take time off work, it's not paid. So I really can't afford to get sick.

[pinksugar]

Bec that's disgraceful. I'm pretty sure that's against OH&S - your boss should not be asking you to do things that compromise your health and safety. I would be looking for another job. That is completely unacceptable behaviour in my opinion and I'm furious just thinking about it!

[Karren]

I think that's totally unacceptable!! And iif you get sick over this then your boss should pay your salary for those days your off because she put you at risk!! Safety ove profits!!

[Ricci]

OMG Bec .. are u feeling unwell now??
Im really sorry Boss was an a H%$#@

[fingers]

thats awful! if you do get sick, take as much leave as you can just to prove your point! lol

seriously though that's really bad. you were just doing what you were trained to do!!

[Adrienne]

What a complete b****. First of all, most jobs that i know of will not even let you come to work if your're sick. What will happen if you do get sick and then you pass it on to the next customer? There should be no such thing as a loose policy. You either follow the rules (especially if it was stated in its own box and bold print) or you don't put the warning there. And lastly, its completely unacceptable to reprimand an employee in front of a client. Obviously your boss does not have any consideration for their employees nor any respect. Is there any way you could speak to someone of a higher authority, like HR?

[magneticheart]

Your boss was totally out of line! Not only did she humiliate you but she made you work under unnaceptable cir***stances.
As a complete germophobe I can really understand why you wouldn't want to lean over the face of a coughing spluttering germ infested woman. That's just gross lol
If your boss didn't really mean that her therapists have the right to refuse treatments to ill people then she shouldn't have put it on the card.

[LookLovely429]

WWWOOOWWWW!!!! That is absolutely CRAZY!!!! What I was stuck at was the fact that your client B@!#$! about a 30 minute commute...GET OVER IT!!! Honestly if the policy is that loose what is the purpose of it. Especially if your boss overrides your decision. In that case since the client was that important...she [your boss] could have given her the facial treatment. You were absolutely right for confronting your boss and if I were you I would start seeking employment else were.

It is amazing to me how rude people can be. I know we all have our moments but some people are like that all the time, complete disregard for other peoples feelings, health, or general well-being. Sometime we need to step back and put ourselves in the other persons shoes. You knew dag-um well when you woke up in the morning you were sick as a dog...why do you think it is ok to cough, sneeze, and breathe all over someone...unless you are completely helpless (like a 2 year old child).

[lolaB]

That's ridiculous! Your boss is completely unreasonable and insensitive. No one wants to work with someone coughing and spreading their germs every which way. I'm angry for you!

[Modirty80]

Eww what a selfish, disgusting woman for even coming in sick like that! I would NEVER! Especially if you are snotting it all up. Gross. Who in their right mind would go get a facial like that? I would be so embarressed to sneeze and cough all over someone.

Also, your boss is a jerk too. It is totally disrespectful to yell at someone in front of someone else.

ugh.

I hope the rest of you weekend makes up for your crappy day......

[CellyCell]

Ew. What a gross hag and your boss is the hag of the day!
People are just out right rank and nasty these days and inconsiderate of others! I don't even hug people when I'm sick, let alone get all up in their business.

It sucks your boss made it worst by saying, "it's a loose rule"... then why the hell is that rule put there in the first place if it ain't respected? That means other rules can become loose too - you should tell her next time a sick client comes by for HER to take of them and see how she likes it. Yeah, she's your boss but wth, I don't care who it is - if she's so damn concerned of loosing money your boss ought to take care of her employees first... you're her money maker!

Go spit in her coffee in case you become sick.