Modern Salon - January 2008 - (Page 78)

YOUR BUSINESS The Verdict Victoria Wurdinger addresses these top-in-’08 legal issues to help you avoid a caseload of trouble. J oyce Hampers has a dual advantage when it comes to keeping her spas out of legal quagmires. As owner of the cutting-edge G2O spa and EMERGE urban resort spa in Boston, she can rely on her past—as an attorney with her own practice and later as the Commissioner of Revenue for her state—to keep her business running right. Here, Hampers shares the top legal issues salons will face in 2008, as well as peremptory actions you can take to protect your business. Risky Business Risk management goes beyond wearing gloves during facial extraction. According to Hampers, the most challenging issue facing the industry today is the ability to get liability—insurance, that is. With salons branching out into everything from microdermabrasion and laser hair removal to medical devices with murky whocan-use regulations, insurance companies are experiencing losses from lawsuits, and the pressure is on spas and salons—even if they don’t cross over to medi-stance. “It’s becoming very difficult and expensive for spas to get general and professional liability insurance,” says Hampers. “It’s similar to what happened to OB/GYNs, who began quitting when their professional liability insurance costs skyrocketed. It’s a real threat to the salon and spa industry and particularly to smaller operations.” Mega spas and skittish insurance companies are fueling the fire, as is the fact that states are beginning to require special licenses for certain equipment. For instance, as of January 2007, Oregon’s airbrush tanners had to be certified estheticians. The threat goes well beyond the medispa; Hampers says after 14 problem-free years, a 78 JANUARY 2008 pregnant client experienced a rash-like reaction to a pedicure. While the culprit remains unknown, essential oils, salts and seaweed are only a few of the natural remedies that have the potential for adverse reactions. What poses a risk for your business? You might be surprised. For instance, the seemingly harmless steam treatment or the flotation tank that relies on anti-gravity should not be used by anyone who is pregnant or has high blood pressure. How are you supposed to know who meets that criteria? That information should be in your medical intake form. “Spas should be using medical intake forms and by law, the completed forms must be under physical lock and key,” explains Hampers. “If they are on a computer for the world to see, you’ve compounded your liability issues.” Hampers advises that even hair salons use the forms because various medications not only affect spa treatments, they can change the outcome of chemical services such as perms and hair color. Hampers says her spas’ general and liability insurance increased by nearly $12,000 in 2007, and that doesn’t include other insurance coverage such as casualty, property, workman’s compensation and loss of business income. When it comes to those, know what you are paying for and read policies carefully, particularly for exclusions. continued on 80 www.modernsalon.com http://www.modernsalon.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Modern Salon - January 2008

Modern Salon - January 2008 Contents Behind the Cover Notebook Contributors @Modernsalon.com New-Now-Next Modern Portfolio Modern Reports Color and Texture News and Trends Ask Beth Your Makeovers Ask the Experts The Verdict Doing Hair Transformation on Trend Modern Update The Goods Personal Style

Modern Salon - January 2008

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