Zeel has just informed licensed massage therapist providers on its platform that the regular rate of pay will decrease by $5 an hour, while attempting to mask it as an "increase" by eliminating an OPTIONAL program where the massage therapists indirectly foot the bill (via recieving $15/hour less a session) to provide clients a "free" massage table, and calling the elimination of this program a "raise."

This rate decrease comes on the heels of with yet another increase in the fees charged to clients, who are now paying $140 per hour session. Since I have been a provider on the Zeel platform, the clients have had their fees increased twice, from $116, to $128, to now this $140.  Not at any time have the massage providers recieved an increase.  

This means the therapists, with which the Zeel platform could not exist, who absorb drive time and travel expenses to clients, as well as all other massage related costs including luxury supplies and advanced education (for which I, among many others spend well over $4000 a year,) are now recieving only 57% of that fee.  

When Soothe did this, top therapists left the platform, including myself.  Client retention decreased, client and therapist loyalty decreased, client poaching increased, and their reputation is irreversibly tarnished.  To decrease overall pay is a decision that is unethical, insulting, and shows blatant disregard for those who are interacting with the clients.  This is a field where it is vitally important that the person providing safe, educated, healing touch be appropriately compensated in order to provide a high quality of service.

We work as independent contractors. Many of us run private practices, and are extensively experienced in the spa and massage industry.  A business owner who provides work via contract can negotiate their rate, and once that contract is made, any changes to it must be negotiated and agreed upon as well.  This opportunity to negotiate a new contract was not provided; rather we were simply informed of the change and decrease.

I strongly urge Zeel to reconsider this decision.