10/01/2025
There was some disturbing news this week in my home town, Methuen. A pair of massage businesses were shut down for operating illegally and abusing their workers' rights.
It got me to thinking - do people know the markers to look for to be sure they're in a massage business that is operating on the up-and-up?
First and foremost, listen to your gut. Our instincts are smarter than our brains are much of the time, so if you're getting an icky feeling, listen to it!
You can also look for a state-issued license. The state gives credit-card sized licenses to businesses that they have vetted, and the law is to display those licenses in plain view. You should see an establishment license as well as a license for each therapist employed by the business, and if you don't, that's a red flag. If you don't see one, you ask about it and they can't show you their licenses, that's an even bigger red flag!
Just because you don't see a license doesn't mean you've stumbled into a horrifying situation - maybe you're in a licensed establishment run by a disorganized person, for example. But it should set off warning bells and prompt you to ask questions.
A license doesn't guarantee good behavior, of course, but you can be sure that anybody who has a state-issued massage license has passed a recent CORI check, and that the state and city are both aware of the business and have the ability to perform spot inspections.
Another key detail is that these cases came to light because of complaints to the Mass department of health. You, the consumer, can play a role in helping this industry stay safe, both for the clients and the workers. There's so many businesses out there, a random spot check is a rare thing. But a complaint will be investigated.
