massage therapist

spa attendant

guest service agent

nail technician

front desk agent

Exhale Spa

BEWARE:  The signing bonus is NEVER or RARELY paid-- one has to pull teeth to get the advertised $1000. 

I quit this company because though I have worked for Exhale for about seven years, the new owners and management do NOT value their employees or what our skills and personalities bring to the workplace.  The previous owners actually valued their employees.  But now with new owners and management its obvious that the employees are NOT valued and that's why employee turnover is currently so frequent.  The long standing employees help  BRING in  BUSINESS with regulars but pay was cut and now the workers not only make a LOWER PERCENTAGE but have to "suck it up" for Exhales new DISCOUNTS meaning if a service is originally average  $250 hr for a service but the client has a SPECIAL for $100 then the worker only gets about 25% of what the client pays (plus a tip).  So Exhale in trying to bring business to their spas are paying the employees much less now.  The employees are taken avantage of.  (Commissions and tips before for an hour service were about $60-$90 an hour) but with all the specials are now about $40 an hour that includes the tip --for a facial or service.

Management is a mess!  But this is because the Owners don't care about its peopel! In the last 6 months Exhale went through 3 spa managers. (Those people were trying to make Exhale better but if one has feeback on how to improve the company-- you are FIRED!) And the regional/district managers that are trying to pick up the slack aren't that knowledgeable with the day to day at the spa.  Plus, the management's hands are tied because the owners are NOT OPEN to suggestions for improvements to the company!

There are NO HANDS ON MANAGERS, NO MEETINGS, NO TRAINING, NO LEADERSHIP, NO REAL PROTOCOLS, NO INCENTIVES, and NO LOYALITY for the workers that have been there for years (10-20 years). And the owners or higher ups seem inept with in the New York City Spa business and never want feedback from their employees on how to improve their business.  In fact, the owners never introduce themselves to the employees or bother knowing who their employees are....They don't even live in NY.  But they should make a point to value and meet their loyal long term employees and maybe learn from the employees experiences on what is working and what is not!
The owners don't really care about the employees that bring in business. They don't seem to realize that the PEOPLE (Employees) and the RELATIONSHIPS is what makes a business successful!
If they continue down this path.  I personally don't think Exhale will succeed or last! It's too bad because it used to be a great company and brand!

First off, the pay is extremely low even for MODs and not really worth it unless you are a college student looking for a free fitness membership. They will hire you under the pretense of giving you full-time but you will almost never get it. 

There has been a high turnover with upper management in the past few months and it has made the work place confusing and dysfunctional. Management refuses to take responsibility for performing poorly (not properly training new hires, not offering proper training on new promotions, expecting you to take personal time to learn about new promotions or just dropping off a print out about new promotions that does not full explain your incentives and spending minimal time going over it with employees) Management is very inexperienced and seem to not know what they are doing. Rarely checks in with front desk staff but are keen on doing "evaluations" with service providers.

If you are selling be sure to keep a log and evidence of your sales as you cannot retroactively check them as they will not always pay your commission or let you claim bonuses. Be wary of more experienced employees stealing sales even if it seems like they are only assisting the sale, they will take credit and all commission. Only a few employees are rewarded bonuses, seems rigged as management is extremely biased. This is proven through being given a set schedule but if one of your regular days fall on a holiday it will be taken and given to someone they like more because you are paid time and a half for holidays.

Do not go out of your way for this job as management will take advantage only to replace you with a newer more naive employee once you have caught on to their ways. Staff is not valued at all.

There were no typical days at the corporate office at Exhale. From the second you walk into that door you are always putting out fires. The worst part is that we are all trying to handle our own crisis, and rarely will anyone offer you a helping hand. When someone new starts at Exhale there are actual bets to see how long this one will last. Its callied babtism by fire, and there are many that do go up in flames.

I was actually told the first week of my new job, by my boss, "That I was allowed to eat, but rarely did anyone actually "take" a lunch break. Especially me, since every one was watching to see if I could succeed, at least that's what my boss told me.

I honestly have to say the sadest part of the situation inside corporate Exhale, is that I truely don't believe the two wonderful people who started this company, with a brilliant idea and built a company, have no idea what their own accounting department is doing to hurt them. In a small community such as spa & fitness reputation goes a long way, and that accounting department is ruining their reputation among competitors, vendors, and customers as well..

My job was never dull and always full of daily challenges while working as the Assistant Spa Director.  On a daily basis I would balance therapist and front desk attendees schedules, organize community outreach and events, participate in corporate conference calls, and book groups/individuals for spa therapies.  My team was AMAZING!!!  Everyone from the Spa Attendants to my Spa Director were helpful and giving.  I looked as the Spa Team as an extended family more than anything.  I think the most challenging part of my job was having to let team members go.  Right after the new Spa opened we had to let go a few therapists due to budgetary reasons and that was hard for me because I really liked them.  The best part of my job was helping people feel better.  You don't realize how much you neglect your health until you get a massage or enter a workout class.  The guests and members who left our doors always felt grateful and recharged and I loved that I could help aid in that transformation.

I managed anything pertaining to our members and memberships. I organized and executed marketing and partnership events. I personally maintained and created corporate partners. I maintaining our spa budget by always staying on my feet and figuring out why we are missing budget and how we can compensate for it overall. I managed the entire spa from therapists to front desk to spa attendants. I personally oversaw maintenance and facility operations. I worked with the hotel to maintain our facilities. I was the lead sales person and trainer. 

I learned how to follow a strict revenue report and how to hit monthly budgets on a consistent level with managing a team.

The hardest part of my day is strict revenue report over views that were intended for corporate to review each location. 

The most enjoyable part of my job is training our front desk associates on sales. I also love the guest services part.

In my almost decade working for Exhale, I worked at 5 different locations and can say that my colleagues were some of the best fitness instructors, yoga teachers, estheticians, massage therapists, and nail techs in the business.  Truly.  

Some of the lower level managers were incredible... but unfortunately compensation for management was not enough to keep the talent.  The upper levels of management (head of HR, National Spa Director, CFO etc.) are generally lacking in transparency, honesty, and the ability to execute what's necessary for the business' success.  

If you are a spa tech or a teacher and you can come in, do your work, and leave you'll love it.  If you work at the front desk as a side job because you want to take free classes and get discounts on team spa services it's great.  But if you're interested in spa management, do not work here, you'll not get paid enough for the things you'll have to put up with from national management. 

I loved working here for many years, even though there were ups and downs, like most places. I liked the Exhale work culture and belief in helping our guests achieve a healthy mind and body. Overall, this location had pretty good management, and nice coworkers, but unfortunately, the owners let this location get run down over the last few years. As a result, it made it harder to do our jobs. We had very good benefits, but as of January 2021, we came under the umbrella of a different company. As a result, the pay structure changed a bit and they did away with some of our perks, such as free classes and and a great payday discount on  products. Benefits are still offered, but they aren’t as good as they were.  Unfortunately, due to the negative financial consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic/shutdown, the new company decided to permanently close the Dallas location in July, only giving us 9 days notice. 

What is the best part of working at the company?
You receive a ski pass and a bonus during the season.

What is the most stressful part about working at the company?
That we have to take the shuttle during the winter month going to work - but it is worth it $$.

What is the work environment and culture like at the company?
Work environment is great, there are several window massage rooms and all the treatment rooms and the common aereas of the spa are spacious.
We are a great team - helping each other out as best as possible - and find friends and community between your co- workers

What is a typical day like for you at the company?
Every season; for winter, summer, fall and spring schedule we can choose our shift; morning or afternoon/evening hours or you can choose a long day. The lead therapist tries the best to accommodate your request in regard to your wishes of hours and work days.
Winter spa opening hours are usually 9am to 7pm, which are split in shifts 
9am to 2/3pm or 
2/3pm to 7pm.
Spring and fall hours are 9am -5pm.

I love my job. I am a very positive person overall and not everyone is as positive as me, but this is the best massage job I've ever had. It pays well bc it's in Boston and they charge high rates. I get tips. It's an easy demographic to work on. Most guests are very nice. Overall the management is very supportive. My coworkers are now friends. If it wasn't for the fact that my body hurts sometimes and that makes me nervous I would barely feel like I have a job bc I enjoy it and I like helping people. The only drawback is they don't want to give people full time. Also some people don't like working in the basement. I don't mind. It's better now with covid bc we can leave the building without issue if we don't have a treatment. It was a bit trickier before. Also we are not paid by the hour so we don't have to clean and look busy all the time! (Some of the estheticians have to clean sometimes, though)

I am currently still employed by Exhale Spa and I love it. However there has been a high turnover in upper management and it has trickled down to the bottom of the totem pole. The company does not treat all their employees fairly. Hourly employees are expected to do a lot of the work salary managers are responsible for. You are not compensated if you can communicate in another language, and this is vital to keep communication between the spa attendants who majority speak Spanish. Not many opportunities are given for raises or other advancements once you have reached MOD level. If you are someone who likes a collaborative workplace this may not be the right place for you. But rather it is a good job for college students who need flexible hours and a free fitness membership. I was looking for more experience in management and I feel as though I really got that by picking up a lot of slack along with my other colleagues.

Top Job Titles	Average Salary
Massage therapist 19 salaries reported	$78.58 per hour
Spa attendant 8 salaries reported	$18.13 per hour
Guest service agent 6 salaries reported	$30.25 per hour
Nail technician 1 salary reported	$22.00 per hour
Front desk agent 3 salaries reported	$34.00 per hour

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