It is incredibly unfortunate that sexual harassment is so prevalent within the massage therapy industry. If you have experienced this, please know that you are not alone, and that what has happened to you is not your fault. We know that for many who experience this firsthand it can be traumatizing, and leave you feeling uncomfortable, embarrassed, unsafe, angry, frustrated, afraid, and a wide range of other feelings and emotions.
Sexual harassment is any unwanted comment, gesture, or action that is sexual in nature (aside from unwanted touching of sexual body parts, which is sexual assault), that makes someone feel afraid, embarrassed, uncomfortable or ashamed. The intention of the person doing the action doesn’t matter, it’s the negative impact the action has that makes something sexual harassment.(Source) Sexual harassment under Canadian Labour Law is defined as any conduct, comment, gesture, or contact of a sexual nature that is likely to cause offence or humiliation.(Source)
If you were to look back at a past blog post entitled Sexual Harassment – Steps to Take Before, and If Something Occurs you will find helpful tips on what to do. For now, however, we want to focus on those things which you should NOT do.
First, if you are sexually harassed while providing treatment do not continue the treatment. End the treatment session immediately! Calmly inform the client that their behaviour, words, gesture, etc. is unacceptable, and that the massage session is over, then leave the room. This may be one of the bravest things that you will ever do and doing it may be scary – but it is important to have this idea already in your mind and worked out in your head. Allowing a session to continue if you have been or are being sexually harassed sends the message that the behaviour is acceptable. TRUTH – it is never acceptable! This is why it is clearly included in the labor code (see the second source cited above).
Second, don’t keep what happened a secret. So many therapists endure harassment because they are afraid of what others may say or think. Instead, immediately once you exit the room tell your boss or supervisor what happened and what you have experienced. For those who work alone, call a trusted friend, or relative and keep them on the line until the harasser has left your workspace. Unless that person is your boss or supervisor do not use the clients name, as doing so may open you to a defamation lawsuit but do tell them what happened. If someone that you work for brushes the incident off or does not provide you with the support they should, please point them to this information (click here).
Third, don’t leave the details of the incident out of your treatment notes. Record every detail you remember as soon as possible.
Fourth, don’t broadcast the name of the client anywhere. Don’t post about the incident on social media. Instead, call your local police authority and report the incident to them. Having a report of sexual harassment on file, should anything of a criminal nature happen in the future, your report may help the authorities to bring about a conviction. We know that you will want to warn other therapists about your inappropriate client, but doing so would leave you open to a civil defamation suit. This includes talking about the incident with a spouse or relative of the client.
Finally, don’t rebook the client. Sexual harassment should have a zero-tolerance policy attached to it. This means that the harasser loses their right to receive treatment from you. We have a little bit more to say about this in another article that has been published entitled When Can You Refuse Treatment? If you choose to inform the client that you are firing them, be sure to speak to the matter as an incident which occurred during your last treatment, and always clear any such communication through your lawyer before sending it.