Executive Summary: Hands On workers, especially massage therapists, are facing challenging times as part of the Hands On professions that require a unique intimacy in an environment conducive to COVID-19 spread (Bromage, 2020). In this petition, you will find that we are asking the State of Illinois to support this unique $8 billion industry (Appendix A). Hands On workers do not feel that they are being adequately led. For example, when Massage Therapists businesses are still being referred to as “massage parlors” and we are being called masseuses and masseurs, it is hard to feel as though the Hands On industry is being taken seriously. We worry for the future of our industry when the Governor has said that he himself is a businessman yet has provided no clear guidance on how to support us. We would like to take this opportunity to remind the State that we provide $409.8 million dollars to the state from Hands On Income taxes alone (Appendix A). We write this petition with a plan calling for funding, leadership, support and more. We support Illinois Hands On workers and hope you do too.

We the undersigned, call for the State of Illinois to provide a clear, streamlined process that provides the following to Hands On workers:

1. Funding & Protection
2. Leadership
3. Liaisons
4. Worker Sanitation and Protocol

For the purposes of this petition Hands On workers are classified as any healthcare field or workers that have a “hands on” requirement to work with their clients and patients. This includes, but is not limited to:

• Massage Practitioners
• Rolfers
• Alexander Practitioners 
• Chiropractor
• Optometrists
• Ophthalmologists
• Dentists
• Physical Therapists (PT)
• Tattoo Artists
• Hair Salon Employees
• Esthetician’s
• Nail Technicians
• Home and Health Aids

Hands On workers are facing unique challenges that no other field faces:

1. They cannot mind six- foot social distancing as they are required to use their hands on patients and clients in order to work.
2. They work in confined spaces with clients and patients. The virus has proven to us that it likes to spread in closed, confined spaces with less air circulation (Bromage, 2020). This is why outbreaks are occurring in meat packing plants, work places, churches, and more. Areas with limited air circulation and cooler temperatures creates a virus-friendly environment (Bromage, 2020). Most Hands On workers must work in these type of conditions to remain HIPAA compliant, provide their services, prevent infection, and provide privacy to the patient/client. For example, massage therapists are more than likely working in a room that is closed with limited air circulation (temperature control) and a cooler environment. In addition, Massage Therapists are unique to all other Hands-On professions in the length of time we are in close proximity with a client or patient. As little as thirty (30) minutes up to ninety (90) minutes.
3. Limited access to medical grade Personal Protection Equipment (PPE). While Hands On workers understand the necessity of medical grade PPE equipment like N95 masks and EPA approved sanitation must go to the hospitals first, there is no consideration for these workers to have access to these resources in the future despite working in close proximity to the population. Let us remind you that Johns Hopkins reports that viral shedding by asymptomatic people may represent 25–50% of total infections (Auwaerter, 2020). Note: This statistic was updated May 13, 2020.

We the undersigned call for the State of Illinois to protect Hands On workers by looking at how the state is providing: funding, protection, leadership, liaisons, worker sanitation and protocol:

1. Funding and Protection: We call for the State of Illinois to create a concrete model of application for unemployment support. This model should:

• Cut through the red-tape of the unemployment process: COVID-19 has created uncertain times for Hands On practitioners and workers. Many Hands On workers fall into a category where they are unable to receive unemployment benefits and have to be denied. Only once they are denied are they able to apply for help under the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance budget. For many workers in this field, that process only opened up for them May 11, 2020. This is unacceptable as many people are still waiting for benefits (60 days after the stay-at-home order was issued). We understand that this is a pandemic that we were not prepared for however, it is our wish that this never happens again.
• Streamline a separate process for Hands On workers: By doing so the State of Illinois is looking at injecting $409.8 million back into the Illinois State Government and $8.2 billion back into the State economy (See Appendix A).
• Provide financial support while working back to “normal” income range: It is clear that Hands On workers will be facing uncertain times. Those who have applied for unemployment are still fearful of losing income when the stay-at-home order is lifted. When their jobs are considered “safe” again there is no support for those who are building their client and patient base up again. In the face of this pandemic you are asking them to soldier into a field of constantly changing data while taking away their unemployed safe guards because they are allowed to work. They fear losing all financial assistance while being asked to “soldier” back into their careers. Further there is no offered protections for Hands On workers that are immunocompromised themselves.

2. Leadership: We call for the State of Illinois to provide clear guidelines for each profession. As of now massage therapists are not certain which category they fall under for Governor Prtizker’s re-opening of the Illinois. During the outbreak massage therapists have asked for guidelines on what to do and how to handle the outbreak. Illinois is lacking leadership while other states are not. Washington State’s Department of Health has provided specific guidelines and recommendations to massage therapists, Chiropractors, Dentists, Acupuncturists and so on(Washington Department of Health). Illinois has continually relied on CDC guidelines but which of those guidelines are specific to the Hands On professions? Further insurance companies for Massage Therapists will not cover us with CONFIDENCE. They suggest every case will be covered on an individual basis. What are we supposed to do when the Governor, who calls himself a business man, even agrees that it’s too much of a liability? (Miller, 2020).

3. Liaisons: We call on the State of Illinois to lead the country in trying times and create Hands On liaisons to provide a streamlined process to workers to communicate to the State regarding sanitation and safety protocol, unemployment and business support, and to provide leadership among a seemingly unguided field of workers

4. Worker Safety & Sanitation Resources: We ask that the State of Illinois earmark funds and resources from one (or many) of the Pandemic Unemployed Acts, Stimulus Funds, Small Business Support Act, etc. to ensure:

• We request specifically that we are streamlined access to MEDICAL STANDARD & PREVENTION Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for Hands On associates and practitioners. We also ask that we have access to EPA approved sanitation, N95 Masks, gloves, gowns, etc.
• We will not only be required to wear PPE but will also be asked to provide the equipment to our clients and patients. These are the people that our industry relies on in order to work. Keeping them as safe as possible while keeping our workers safe needs to be a top priority among Illinois’ $8 billion (and more) industry.

The Authors: This petition was written as a collaboration from the following staff at The Body Therapy Center & School of Massage: Holly I. Pinto (http://www.thebtcsm.com) and Kember L.E. Switzer (KemberGreco@gmail.com). 

Contributions and special thanks are owed to Amanda Dalverstadt-McDaniel and Ashley Wyatt. 

 

 

Citations:

Auwaerter, P. G. (2020, May 13). Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2): Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. Coronavirus COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) | Johns Hopkins ABX Guide. https://www.hopkinsguides.com/hopkins/view/Johns_Hopkins_ABX_Guide/540747/all/Coronavirus_COVID_19__SARS_CoV_2_

Bromage, E. (2020, May 20). The Risks - Know Them - Avoid Them. Erin Bromage PhD: https://www.erinbromage.com/post/the-risks-know-them-avoid-them

Miller, Rich. “If You Reopen for Business Early and Somebody Dies, Don't Expect Your Insurance Company to Bail You Out.” Times, Chicago Sun-Times, 8 May 2020, chicago.suntimes.com/columnists/2020/5/8/21252579/gov-j-b-pritzker-stay-home-order-coronavirus-illinois-reopen-lawsuits-rich-miller-capitol-fax.

Washington Department of Health. Provider Specific Guidelines. Accessed Home Emergencies>Novel Coronavirus Outbreak 2020 (COVID-19)>Healthcare Providers. https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020COVID19/HealthcareProviders

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Employment Statistics Query System,Occupational Employment Statistics, Multiple occupations for one geographical area, Illinois. https://data.bls.gov/oes/#/geoOcc/Multiple%20occupations%20for%20one%20geographical%20area

 

 

Appendix A:

Section A below shows labor fields relating to the Hands On field in the state of Illinois. All statistics provided came from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and can be accessed from the citation provided above.

Section B provides the Average Salaries of Hands On workers in Illinois specifically. Please note the total provided in the petition came from simple math: Employment X Annual Wage Mean=Average Salaries of Hands On Workers. What is even more important to note is that none of these numbers reflect independent contractors which means this a minimum estimate.

Section A:Area: Illinois
Period: May 2019
Occupation (SOC code):Employment(1): Annual mean wage(2)

Chiropractors(291011): 1790: $86,960
Dentists, General(291021):3850: $189,170
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons(291022) NA
Orthodontists(291023): 480: $177,620
Optometrists(291041): 2080: $125,610
Podiatrists(291081):550: $149,490
Occupational Therapists(291122): 5790: $84,700
Physical Therapists(291123):10170: $91,750
Speech-Language Pathologists(291127): 7510: $78,980
Dental Hygienists(291292):9080: $72,050
Acupuncturists and Healthcare Diagnosing or Treating Practitioners, All Other(291298): NA: $68,090
(8) -
Home Health and Personal Care Aides(311120):89040: $26,450
Occupational Therapy Assistants(312011): 2240: $63,700
Occupational Therapy Aides(312012): 2410: $30,540
Physical Therapist Assistants(312021):3980: $59,130
Physical Therapist Aides(312022):1230: $29,290
Massage Therapists(319011): 4370: $47,980
Dental Assistants(319091): 13170: $40,270
Medical Assistants(319092):22940: $36,500
Barbers(395011) (8) -: $29,630
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists(395012): 17260: $31,480
Manicurists and Pedicurists(395092): 3340: $24,580
Skincare Specialists(395094): 2130: $36,800
Footnotes:
(1) Estimates for detailed occupations do not sum to the totals because the totals include occupations not shown separately. Estimates do not include self-employed workers.
(2) Annual wages have been calculated by multiplying the corresponding hourly wage by 2,080 hours.
(5) This wage is equal to or greater than $100.00 per hour or $208,000 per year.
(8) Estimate not released.
SOC code: Standard Occupational Classification code -- see http://www.bls.gov/soc/home.htm

Data extracted on May 25, 2020

Section B:

Chiropractors: Estimated $155,658,400
Dentists, General: Estimated: $728,304,500
Orthodontists: $85,257,600
Optometrists: $26,268,800
Podiatrists: $82,219,500
Occupational Therapists: $490,413,000
Physical Therapists: $933,097,500
Dental Hygienists: $654,214,000
Home Health and Personal Care Aides: $2,355,108,000
Occupational Therapy Assistants: $142,688,000
Occupational Therapy Aids: $73,601,400
Physical Therapy Assistants: $235,337,400
Physical Therapy Aids: $36,026,700
Massage Therapists: $209,672,600
Dental Assistant: $530,355,900
Medical Assistants:$837,310,000
Hairdressers, Hairstylists, and Cosmetologists: $543,344,800
Manicurist and Pedicurist: $82,097,200
Skincare Specialists: $78,384,000

Total: $8,279,359,300
Illinois Income Tax at 4.95%: $409,828,285