massage therapist

nail technician

spa attendant

front desk agent

esthetician

Burke Williams

The ambiance, philosophy, training, all supplies provided, and some benefits, and fringe benefits, (like use of the spa), are welcoming. Free bananas in the staffroom were a plus. Available computers for us to check our schedules/clients were provided, expected to be used, and helpful. We could (at that time) bring in our former personal clients on a discount, which I never used, but served others well. Use of the spa and one free massage a month was a plus. I only used that once, because after my shift, I really just wanted to go home.
It would have been nice to have baffling to absorb outside noise, or other clients' conversations; sometimes we could hear conversations, and some clients think it's our fault, or we were expected to turn up the music or take action, which of course we are going to try to do if it's a problem; occasionally, we have to knock on the door or wall to give a friendly reminder that voices are to be kept low. The other clients can think that is stifling... and results in a problem. I was trained to give massages, not to be an ombudsman, but we were catapulted into that position anyway. More stress on us. No extra pay. Here's another story for you: One very busy Saturday, where the men's side was turned into the "totally silent spa" and the whole spa only open to women until about 3pm, I was making a quick beeline to either use the restroom or pickup my next client. A lady stopped me and asked me to get another pair of slippers for her since hers were too small. I wasn't sure where the shoes were, since I was not a spa attendant, but summing it all up, I told her that I'd be happy to quickly get the spa attendant for her, and that I'd be right back. "But why can't you get them for me?" she wailed. I immediately asked her for her shoe size, got a reply, and turned to go find someone... fast. It was then that her friend realized that my name tag stated I was a massage therapist, and chided her friend, and tried to stop me. I countered "No it's okay, really..., I'll be right back"... figuring I'd be late anyways, so I may as well do the right thing and enjoy myself in the process. I went to the usual women's side, thankfully got a kind exchange from a sweet attendant (they really all were), and headed back. The ladies were full of apologies, I told them no problem, just wanted them to have a wonderful experience, but so was I full of apologies for being late when I went to greet my client. Politeness, doing what's right, and giving our best were always the rules of the day. Like Disney. Regardless. The clients are usually clueless as to US and what our lives are like. Again, no extra pay. Just be aware of it.
We were often trained in special techniques, and came equipped already with certificates and licenses in massage; the daily management staff was VERY supportive and friendly, but the higher directors (not the owners) lacked proficiency and understanding of day-to-day workings (like the stories above), such as the fact that 10 minutes between clients is never the norm or enough for us to rejuvenate and return refreshed for the next client to get our "best" or for us to feel centered; it is more like 2 minutes, a rushed 2 minutes, because clients who are now very relaxed, and are there to saunter through the day, cannot and should not be expected to jump off the table at the end of the massage; they saw little need to change that to be respectful to us as therapists or people. I was really shocked at that ignorant disposition after the niceness that welcomed me in. As massage therapists who are physically working, we are expected to take care of our bodies, and are taught in school to be careful, stretch in between, and drink water, thus need to have time to do these things, especially use the restroom, in between, but there was barely enough time to do that, let alone wash our hands, which is a CDC requirement. There is antibacterial hand gel in the rooms, which we were told can replace the washing of hands, with which I disagree. In fact, it burns the skin, and can cause worse problems in the long run. If I was a client, I would want that person to use soap and water before working on me. Because of the beating my hands took from heat, oil, soaps, and chemicals, my skin broke out in a rash of dots in certain places, not to mention being stressed at not being able to go to the bathroom if it was going to run me late, and being hungry and thirsty. Even though there were different levels of massages, we were expected to always give a "firmer" massage, and some clients would switch it up on us and ask for it deeper and try to not pay for it. We could inform them it was more, but sometimes, they squabbled. It was very trying and tiring.
Getting back to nourishment, I tried to eat a good meal before or grab a bite of protein bar in between, but it is just not practical, because on the busy days (which were a blessing for the business overall), there was no time to even breathe. I saw fellow therapists eating burgers at 8:15 am. One lady did Cokes all day. That's not very healthy, and does not lead to wellness, and here we are catering in the wellness business. What a satire. Add to that the changing of sheets and prepping the room for the next client. If it is switch time between shifts, that adds to the rush. It ran smoothly, but only because we "ran", i.e., moved our butts to make it happen. It was very stressful. Thankfully, we all did our best to be supportive. The dim rooms and environment mimic dusk, which cause the body to produce melatonin, which in turn causes sleepiness, so we were often tired. I would try to remedy that by spending time outside or in the bright break area if I did not have a massage.
Because we all shared and understood the same predicament, we as "groundwork" staff were EXTREMELY supportive of one another, and everyone really pitched in to make the whole work smoothly and like clockwork. Because of proprietary B.W. training before our job began, we were all on the same page when it came to etiquette towards clients and mostly each other.
Another thought: I was paid at least $5 more per massage at another company I had worked for in the past. An additional thing I think was funny/odd is that they began an incentive program where we would be paid more under certain circumstances (like a repeat client within a specified time frame); most of us did very well, in fact so well, that they figured they were paying us too much, (as we are motivated to work well anyways); so then they scaled it back. "Tsk, tsk, can't earn too much..." was the message. I wouldn't want the company to go broke, but it was a test for them, as much for us, maybe a test to see our performance under such circumstances. I was grateful to be doing the massages and have the work, in spite of the drawbacks mentioned above, but I think they could have paid more. Not everyone tips, because the charge overall is expensive and mainly goes into overhead, and some clients believe that we are paid well and do not need tips, which is false.
If you share the same name with an existing staff, you are expected to choose a different name from theirs, like a nickname or something, so tips can go to the right people. And with tips, it is trust, which can be broken. I wonder how many tips don't get to the right people, because the front desk staff may not deliver them properly, though during my time there, all I could do was be grateful that supposedly I was getting my correctly delivered tips, and trust the ethics of the desk staff. I never had a problem, but others think they did. The most thoughtful clients maybe understood this, and gave us tips right after the massage. The laundry staff were incredible people. They were often seen fixing the wash/dry machines and improvising better ways to help us help the clients. Amazing staff.
A lot was expected of all of us, and most of us did our best to deliver. The owners and creators of B.W. (top people) are very gracious and thoughtful people, and once a year, treated ALL the staff of ALL locations to some sort of gala event. I truly wish them well, in spite of whatever suffering I underwent; but I see no need to subjugate myself to it again because of the tremendous toll it takes in its overall effect. I would not recommend working for them unless you are a Viking or a masochist.

honestly the worst experience ive had my ENTIRE career

i was working in this slave ship from May 2011-Nov 2012. I've never in my life dreaded going to work as much as i did here, and I've worked retail....at places like American Eagle...during holiday season. i almost quit without the possibility of unemployment multiple times. during my training my group had multiple employees openly stating how much they hated this place and to get out while we could, and im sorry i didnt listen to them.

i was in guest services, booking appts and what not...it started off pretty decent, but within about 3 months it turned into a complete mess. the job itself was whatever but the environment....coming to work everyday was like an episode of Wendy Williams "whos the hot topic today!?' it got to a point where i didnt even want to communicate with my coworkers, i would just sit in the furthest corner of that telethon looking guest service rep chamber and mind my own...everyone was in everyone's business, it was like high school all over again

there were so many pointless rules and regulations. it seemed like every other day someone did something wrong, theyd make a new rule stating NOT to do whatever that person did, and then theres a new document we had to sign our lives away on or we'd risk termination. its like they're scared of they're employees exposing them for what they really are. i was asked to go home and change because i had on a normal tank top, nothing risque at all (mind you there was little to no real dress code here, pretty much just make sure you look decent), meanwhile they let people come in their spongebob pajamas and hair tied up in a scarf? and you want me to take this place seriously? im still trying to figure that one out... 

Management showed favoritism...and even the people who did suck up the managers are so fake they'd pretend to like them and talk **** about them behind their backs lol. no room for advancement. one of the nicer managers even warned me to get out of there because of how hopeless this place was...

employee turnover rate for this place must be through the roof. it seemed like every couple of weeks they had a new group of people being trained and within a month 75% of them would be gone, either fired due to the poor training or quit because they saw what BW is really about.... and management was always telling us to be mindful of the new people because they may take your place! what a team, right? at one point it seemed like people were dropping like flies, they had managers on a witchhunt for certain people. if they didnt like you, theyd use ANY excuse to get you out of there. sad, really.

only decent thing about this place is the spa treatments...and even then we werent allowed to use our discount on anyone but ourselves...not even parents. and lord knows this place is waaaaay overpriced and they didnt pay us enough to treat a guest to something. I went maybe 3 or 4 times in the year and a half i was there and that was it.

all i can say is thank baby Jesus for that lay off! my friends/family thought it was hilarious how happy i was to find out my job and time here was coming to an end haha

i know this rant was a long one (and this is just the tip of the list of problems!) but this place is horrible. It may seem all luxurious and legit rom the outside but like another reviewer said, im surprised BW is even still in business with how poorly run this company is.

Burke Williams is a fun environment to work in. The staff are fun and friendly as well as being diverse. The facility management does their best to fulfill the needs of their staff and clientele...but alas, the corporate structure and ownership are lacking. The majority of the corporate structure is made up of persons that are in no way qualified for their jobs, and as such the facilities themselves take the brunt of the burden yet are expected to perform above and beyond. Problems that are complained about by employees are ignored for months and sometimes years, or are subject to quick fixes that eventually break at the most inopportune times.

During training they will not only hint at but state that there is room for upward mobility in the company, which is unfortunately untrue(unless you are willing to spend years working your way from front desk to M.O.D.) and very misleading for those who have the qualifications to be more. Due to the insider only atmosphere perpetuated by ownership and corporate partners, persons with ability, qualifications, or even 4 year or more degrees in business are passed up for "friends of the family" on a regular basis.

Incentive structures are a positive, as they are given at the facility level by a management that actually understands and cares for the employees. Conversely, these incentives are shifted at random by upper management and unfortunately sometimes employees are not informed of the changes.

Another problem is the utter lack of communication with facility management and staff by the corporate offices. Several times while employed there, changes and specials were made last minute(or at least emailed to the facilities last minute) and those in charge of the sales department attributed it to employee error. Also attributed to the communication breakdown is a complete lack of understanding by the corporate partners(by their own volition) of the actual state of disrepair in their facilities. Steam room doors and tiles known to be broken or in disrepair, are left as such for extended periods of time much to the chagrin of the front desk employees who receive the guests complaints and inform their managers of the exact same mechanical, esthetic, and functionality problems on a constant basis. When your owners son is in charge of repairs and he cares more about his mediocre band than his job, things will definitely go wrong and be left unchanged.

They try really hard to be a 5 star spa but come several stars short, and none of this is the fault of the facilities themselves.

If you are looking for a full time job you will find only empty promises from them, as they have taken the approach of many companies and only employee part-time regular staff for insurance purposes.

The employees and staff are kind. But there’s really no time to socialize or interact unless there’s really no time to socialize or interact unless there’s a no-show or unscheduled appointment to really connect with the  team.  Changes are necessary for the way the shifts are managed because they cause high anxiety and can be stressful. 
My shift was Friday and Sunday 5:00-9:00pm the company expected one to arrive 15 minutes prior your shifts begins (unpaid) to prepare “in case” you had an appointment scheduled.
Beginning the shift was highly stressful; sign in exactly 15 minutes before your shift, if you are six minutes late,  you cannot login and will need to speak to manager at the end of the shift. check the list for the day find your room number and see how many clients you have, and if a Massage therapist was in session, in your signed room and was running late, you literally had 5 to 8 minutes to prepare your room, with sheets, towels and the needed tools for a client the began on the hour and 5 to 10 minutes in between sessions the next massage appt.
 It would be less stressful to know ahead of time if clients were scheduled, so mentally one is prepared with necessary sheets, towels, tools needed for the upcoming 2-3 massages booked that are usually back to back. 
Advancement was challenging because trainings for upgrades (financial advancements) were only once a week for a full day (8-5). I had 5 years of advanced experience and the starting pay for EVERYONE was only $27 an hour and The company’s selling point was the tips, however tips were minimal and not guaranteed because not everyone tips. The company is great at selling how much you can earn with the training investments and add-ons, but that takes a lot of time to achieve if you are only a part-time worker and have a job elsewhere.
I had a full-time job with another company and was not able to attend the trainings which left me unable to advance in Burke Williams because they wanted me to learn their style of hot stone, their style of deep tissue, etc. I did not stay for longer than 4 months on that pay rate. 

I left Burke Williams 2 years ago. I have since been able to experience a company that had a healthy morale and proper management.

The main issue with BW is the management. Policies change often and trainings are poor. Managers are not very involved with their teams which makes for a poor relationship between management and employees. 

Furthermore, there is obvious favoritism within the Company. As the managers are not picked by their skills, but instead through their personal relationships outside of the workplace, this has been observed from their social medias and how they interact in the workplace as compared to other employees. 

Many of the employees are resentful towards the management team, most likely because of the animosity that the obvious favoritism cultivates in the office and also due to the fact that the managers are not properly educated in how to effectively train the members of their teams. 

During training sessions- depending on the manager, it may often feel as though the manager is attacking your work performance which leads to a sour relationship with the employees. I would suggest that managers should be properly taught on how to critique their employees without resorting to negative remarks. Instead of putting the employee down, they need to learn how to build up the employee while also making an action plan so that the employee can improve. 

The job is good as a temporary workplace. Due to the negative relationship between the employees and the management team as well as all of the changes and questionable policies, I would only recommend working here short-term.

This is a great company to work for. I have been with the company for almost 3 years, and in that time was able to successfully grow into a leadership position at the corporate office. I began, at the most entry level position available- a seasonal employee- I worked first hand as a front desk associate and spa concierge, catering to our clients' needs. The environment is fast-paced, fun, challenging and keeps you on your toes. No two days are the same at the spa, but everyday is a new adventure- which was a lot of fun. I learned a lot about working with people and providing elevated customer service. Great opportunities to shine, IF you are willing to step up. Growth potential recognized!! I was able to grow into a managment role at the spa facility before moving to the corporate office- all within 1 year. In my current position, I am incredibly fortunate because I work directly with the executive management team and have close contact with the decision makers in the company, many of which have been with the company from the get go (close to 30 years ago!!). The atmosphere is creative, organic, yet structured. Great coworkers along the way.. fun, creative types and a good mix beetween "corporate" and "ma & pa" small business. Elegant and professional Customer service is at the root of absolutely everything in this company. Overall, I've been able to find a great fit here, and can say that I have some direct input in the shaping of the future of this great spa company.

Management team says selling memberships is second to keeping members happy; ensuring they keep their membership. Which is an outright LIE. They judge you based on membership sales. You could be the most gregarious and friendly person in the whole company, and it means absolutely nothing. You could have countless members request only to work with you, for all their transactions . It means nothing. 

You could sell an ample amount of memberships and its never good enough. This company prefers to employ mindless drones, that they could easily control. If you have a complaint or an idea, they look at you funny. As if you're crazy for having your own thoughts and concerns. 

Favoritism runs rampant throughout this establishment. You will feel like a second class citizen. They will make you feel like absolute garbage. When you do well you hear nothing. Whereas if you make a mistake, they will make sure you know how unhappy they are. 

Another fantastic thing about Burke Williams is when you open up to the management. They will hear but not actually listen. 

Their facade will make you believe they have a caring and family environment. Which is all a lie.

Everyone hated working front desk.
The MOD's aren't as bad, the GM is where all the problems lie.

$13- an hour for a simple job. Cool. 
Free wellness massages.  Great.
Incentives for selling memberships. Nice.

The absolute feeling of dread you get when getting ready for work. 
How hopeless you feel at work.
Having a General Manager who is a sociopath.
Wasting money for parking everyday.

You will feel miserable here. 

Unless you're extremely good at kissing a**. 
Then you'll do just fine.

Burke Williams is a great company to work for overall. You receive full health benefits even working part time and they offer competitive pay for the spa industry. It's a good Company to work for as new Massage grad due to their flexibility in patient/ Guest load. For example as a new Grad if your max is 4 people they will work with that. However Management isn't the best; with consent changes to the management team it's hard to keep up with who is in the role and who is not. With this inconsistency a new employee can find themselves lost within the company. With no clear direct or understanding of annual reviews, pay raises, and general rules. For example due to the management issue what should have took one year to receive my annual review took me 3 years and all for a measly dollar raise and minuscule meeting. Another down fall is if you work part time you must work one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) now this doesn't sound bad until you find your working every Saturday for over 3 years. When it comes to this company role, I think at some point seniority should kick in. And like any other job if your not truly liked you will not be able to move up or around the company. I asked to work 3 day instead of 2 and was told No, I asked to work in distribution a day or 2 and was told No, I asked to work our wet room and was told No. Im grateful for my experience with the company and overall would recommend them as an employer however not without giving a true review on what to watch out for so one can be prepared. No company is prefect; its just important to know how they operate so you as the candidate can know how to navigate it.


Burke Williams is a great company to work for overall. You receive full health benefits even working part time and they offer competitive pay for the spa industry.   It's a good Company to work for as new Massage grad due to their flexibility in patient/ Guest load. For example as a new Grad if your max is 4 people they will work with that. However Management isn't the best with consent changes to the management team it's hard to keep up with who is in the role and who is not. With this inconsistency a new employee can find themselves lost within the company. With no clear direct or understanding of annual reviews and pay raises. For example  due to the management issue what should have took a year to receive my annual review took me 3 years and all for a measly dollar and minuscule meeting.  Another down fall is if you work part time you must work one weekend day (Saturday or Sunday) now this doesn't sound bad until you find your working every Saturday for over 3 years.  And like any other job if your not truly liked you will not be able to move up or around the company. I asked to work 3 day instead of 2 and was told No, I asked to work in  distribution a day or 2 and was told No, I asked to work our wet room and was told No.  Im grateful for my experience with the company and overall would recommend them as an employer however not without giving a true review on what to watch out for so  one can be prepared. No company is prefect; its just important to know how they operate so you as the candidate can know how to navigate it.





Depending on the location, management can be good to work with, others difficult and combative. Will find ways to micromanage. It's a high stress environment, so be prepared to be on your feet all day or walking around, get yelled or cussed out by entitled customers. Policies seem to change all the time, so what once was protocol or okay to do won't be some time down the line. They like to have a lot meetings with employees and performance reviews. Give a lot of unnecessary "performance progress" tasks to keep track of. Just let me do my job instead of bogging me down with stuff to write down all the time. VERY gossipy environment, and cliquey, and kind of toxic. It's easy to get caught up in the s**t talking. Strict dress code (no tattoos showing, no "unnatural" hair colors or root regrowth if your hair is dyed or bleached), makeup and hair always done), they'll tell you something you're wearing isn't in dress code but then they don't compensate you for having to buy new clothes. The paychecks can be nice if you sell a lot of memberships and products. 

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Massage therapist 13 salaries reported	$30.08 per hour
Nail technician 2 salaries reported	$23.00 per hour
Spa attendant 1 salary reported	$22.00 per hour
Front desk agent 1 salary reported	$20.00 per hour
Esthetician 1 salary reported	$30.00 per hour

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