Neurotic, passive-aggressive management and illegal behavior ruined the Sherman Oaks location. - Massage Therapist Massage Heights Employee Review

1.0
Oct 19, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

The hydraulic tables were a dream and the location itself is beautifully decorated. I adored working with my coworkers until management constantly stalked us over audio/video and eavesdropped on all of our conversations.

Cons

Co-owners target women of color and LGBT therapists. They expect them to pick up the slack of other front desk assistants, who are typically unorganized, underpaid, undertrained, and underqualified. They painted the former lead therapist as “aggressive” for confronting staff about sabotaging her bookings. Harassment complaints from employees directed towards the husband are ignored. Complaints about unstable and inappropriate clients are ignored if they have a membership. Employees' appearances are regularly criticized, ethnic hairstyles are insulted, female externs are pushed to wear makeup, they accuse nonbinary therapists of applying makeup while at work, and they henpeck MTs for simply wearing bandanas while working. Female employees are hired based on their attractiveness then bullied for it. Owners have made the location uncomfortable for minorities to coexist in, with biased commentary about gender, sexual orientation, the LA protests, and lauding controversial political figures. They profile clients based on their appearance, occupation, or if they use Groupon. They force unnecessary breaks to prevent sit down pay. They remove you from schedules with little notice. They sabotage your books if you call in, refuse to work extra shifts, or put in your two-week notice. They “accidentally” overbook your shifts and expect you to stay past your last hour. Owner is obsessed with memberships and harasses LCs who don’t pitch sales exactly how she wants them to. Management does not want coworkers speaking at work yet call each other pet names and openly discuss their romantic relationships. The lead esthetician has a history of running off other estheticians. Estheticians are harangued for sanitizing their tools too thoroughly. Management corners certain employees in private, often leaving them in tears. Newly employed, untrained MTs are pushed to work despite not knowing Massage Heights protocol. You will likely never get a raise because client traffic is low. Benefits are nigh nonexistent outside of a 401k plan. Rooms are becoming run down because the owner won't reprimand aimless front desk assistants while bullying MTs and estheticians into cleaning. Personal tablets are often left uncharged overnight. Sheets and towels are often stained with makeup and smell like oil. Towel warmers are not regularly sanitized, with hard water deposits and dead insects seen inside. Wet, dirty laundry sits in piles overnight and rooms are left unstocked in the morning. Sessions are usually back-to-back with less than 10 minutes to flip rooms, yet spotlessness is expected. Massage Heights Sherman Oaks is a high school clique with little chance of improvement because management is too obsessed with optics. If you have any notable advice, it will be ignored in favor of peddling memberships, promoting overpriced lymphatic suits, begging for positive Google/Yelp reviews, and creating “viral” Instagram posts. There are only 2 remaining employees who have stayed at this location for a year, while most flee after 3-4 months.

Explore other reviews about Massage Heights

5.0
Dec 4, 2025
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Great culture with a hands on approach from ownership.

Cons

Pay caps inhibit growth at a local level.

4.0
Jul 22, 2026
Recommend
CEO approval
Business Outlook

Pros

Consistent traffic. Excellent opportunity to gain experience for therapists new to the profession.

Cons

Pricing structure is very limiting on earning potential for seasoned therapists who are already invested within their craft.

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