Rejuvenators provide a strictly therapeutic and non sexual service. All marking material, our room cards and our website clearly state this. Additionally the client must sign an acknowledgment that they accept this is strictly a professional non-sexual service. This helps to ensure the safety of our therapists.
PROCEDURE
Due to the nature of the mobile service that Rejuvenators provides to all clients, it is standard procedure for independent contractors to be in a room (whether it be at a hotel or residential address) alone with the client. Typically this is a very rewarding experience for both independent contractor and client. Each independent contractor must understand the physiological aspects of therapeutic massage and understand that the same massage techniques that alleviate stress and promote relaxation also stimulate the entire sensory system, which in a small number of cases may lead to a client becoming sexually aroused.
The entire sexual arousal response is part of the relaxation response of the parasympathetic and sympathetic autonomic nervous system. In other words; the more the client relaxes, the greater the increase of predisposing physiological factors that lead to sexual arousal. This sexual response is more often than not short lived and in the majority of cases the massage will progress as per normal.
In a very small handful of cases this type of sexual arousal can lead clients to act in a suggestive manner towards a therapist. It is the responsibility of all independent contractors to act in a professional manner at all times should this situation arise with a client.
The independent contractors needs to assess the situation and differentiate between the natural physiological responses of the body and clients who are clearly acting inappropriately. Once the independent contractor has assessed the situation and decided if the client’s sexual arousal and or behaviour is due to either of the below, the independent contractor then needs to take the appropriate action/s.
• The natural physiological responses of the body (non threatening behaviour) OR
• Inappropriate and provocative (threatening behaviour)
POLICY
Defusing Sexual Arousal
If the independent contractor believes that the client is conducting themselves appropriately and that their sexual arousal is most probably a result of the body’s natural physiological response, the below techniques of changing the flow of the massage need to be adopted by the independent contractor to try to diffuse the arousal;
• The independent contractor needs to adjust the design of the session by performing passive movements
• Stretch
• Compression Moves
• Deeper Techniques
• The independent contractor should stop working with their hands, they should use their elbows and forearms and hit trigger points etcetera
• Turn the client over or change the position of the client
Note: At no time should the independent contractor make the client feel any more uncomfortable/embarrassed than what they are probably already feeling.
In some cases it may be useful for the independent contractor to explain to the client what they are feeling in a professional manner, ensuring that clinical terminology is used. Fortunately by the independent contractor adopting the above procedure, nine times out of ten the sexual arousal will cease and the massage can then continue as per the standard routine. The independent contractor does need to monitor the situation during the duration of the treatment and repeat the above techniques should the situation present again.
Note: If at any stage the client’s behaviour / response oversteps the mark from being a natural, non threatening response to an inappropriate and provocative response the independent contractor needs to adopt the Inappropriate behaviour procedure as listed below.
Inappropriate Behaviour & Sexual Advances
Very rarely will any Rejuvenators independent contractor be required to action the below procedures, however it is important that each independent contractor is aware of what the procedures are and how to action them.
It is vital that at all times the independent contractor conducts themselves in a professional manner. Whenever entering a client’s room (whether it be at a hotel or a residential address), the independent contractor must be confident and take over the room with their presence to show to the client that they are in control.
Inappropriate behaviour can take many forms.
Typically this behaviour may be;
• Verbal pressure – ie the client asking for ‘extras’
• The client brushing the leg of the independent contractor with their hand
• The client trying to remove their towel so that it falls to the floor
• The client insisting that the independent contractor massages them without towel coverage. This is not permitted under any circumstance (see Towel Procedures).
• Clients touching themselves inappropriately under their own body (facing down) or under the towel (facing up).
POLICY
Inappropriate Behaviour & Sexual Advances
Independent contractors who receive inappropriate advances from clients are to follow the below procedure;
I. Independent contractors are to step away from the table, remove their hands from the client and ex plain to the client straight away that they are a professional massage independent contractor working for a professional company and that the service performed is that of a strictly non sexual nature and that no inappropriate behaviour will be tolerated. For example say, ‘No. I am a professional independent contractor and will not tolerate that behaviour. This is strictly a non-sexual massage.’ Independent contractor who feel that their safety is greatly jeopardised by staying in the room are able to warn the client once and terminate the massage immediately. If for some reason you cannot leave the room but are able to contact the call centre, advise them that you are calling with the HQTI number and the operator will recognise this as a distress signal.
II. If the behaviour continues the independent contractor is required to firmly state that if they continue with the behaviour that they will leave the room, terminate the massage and lodge a complaint with hotel management. They should also state that the treatment will still be charged at the full rate.
III. Should the client still continue with inappropriate requests or behaviour the independent contractor is instructed to terminate the treatment immediately. The independent contractor needs to advise the client of this and leave the room. Say ‘I am terminating the massage now due to your behaviour’. Do not pack up your gear, go straight to hotel reception and report the inci dent.
IV. Ask to speak to the duty manager and explain the situation to them and ask them to ac company you back to the room, or send another staff member, to collect the table and all belongings. Contact the call centre to notify them of the situation.
V. Once the independent contractor has collected all of their equipment the independent contractor must contact the call centre again to let them know the result. The call centre operator will then ‘ban’ the client from using our services again (see below).
The independent contractor is also required to contact Head Office that day (or the following day if the incident occurred during the evening). This procedure is a guide only.
The most important thing a independent contractor can do when dealing with inappropriate behaviour is to stay in control of the situation and remain confident in their own abilities. The independent contractors needs to at all times be firm but polite and never allow the client to dictate terms. Inappropriate behaviour by clients is something that Rejuvenators will not tolerate. Independent contractors are encouraged to use this functionality should they feel it to be inappropriate and unsafe to send another independent contractor in the future to a particular client. Once a client is banned, they will no longer be able to process a booking through our booking platform
.