SOUND OFF
DO YOU EVER WONDER
how your peers would handle a situation?
Maybe you’re curious what other leaders in
the spa industry have to say on a certain
subject. In Sound Off, we ask ISPA members
from differing backgrounds, countries and
companies the same question and see how
their answers compare.
THIS MONTH’S QUESTION:
“How do you anticipate the
spa workforce changing
as a result of the COVID-19
pandemic?”
NATHAN NORDSTROM
Director of Massage Therapy Training
Hand & Stone Franchise Corporation
JULIE PANKEY
Managing Partner
JMPankey Partners
ANGELA CORTWRIGHT
Owner
Spa Gregorie’s
“I think service providers are going
to be taking a hard look at the
difference between being an
employee and an independent
contractor. It was is a lot easier
for people who were laid off as
employees.”
“I believe there is going to be some
challenges moving people from
collecting unemployment and an
additional US$600 a week back to
a truly motivated ‘ready-to-serve’
workforce. I anticipate there to be
some sense of fear from both staff
and guests and it will be more
important than ever for us to step
up as leaders to help lead our teams
and our customers to a healthy
new world.”
“Everything I’m reading seems to
indicate that business will be slow
coming back. Given that ‘truth’ I
think that the therapist shortage
issue that has hounded our industry
for quite some time will ease up
as therapists look for additional
work. This may be short lived,
however, as we (hopefully!) return
to normal operations over the next
12 to 18 months.” n
JULY 2020 ■ PULSE 59