Suspect my nail salon has human trafficking going on

[Anonymous]

How do you know and who would you call about it?

[Anonymous]

Type "report human trafficking" into Google and you'll be given great results, including a national hotline.

As for how do you know -- I think the authorities are the best people to judge that.

[Anonymous]

Thanks.

[Anonymous]

There was a big NYTimes story about how they're all bad.

My theory is, the work takes place in public view so it's not quite as bad as sex work. I try to identify who the money person is, and I always tip my person well, separately, and I try to do it when the money person isn't looking. Other than that idk what to do about it since I don't know of any clearly above board nail places (chime in if you have one).

[Anonymous]

My nail salon isn’t open on Sundays. Would that mean that it’s a legit business?

[Anonymous]

What makes you suspicious?

[Anonymous]

Mine has men going in now. Never saw that until recently. I know men manscape now but it seems weird.

[Anonymous]

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

[Anonymous]

They are all Asians and there is a boss lady (Asian) who walks up and down and watches the nail techs. The nail techs looks intimidated and don't talk much. I have gone to the same lady several times and when I ask her about her life she has told me different conflicting stories - she has kids, doesn't have kids, lives in a house with her family, lives in a condo somewhere else. Weird.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:They are all Asians and there is a boss lady (Asian) who walks up and down and watches the nail techs. The nail techs looks intimidated and don't talk much. I have gone to the same lady several times and when I ask her about her life she has told me different conflicting stories - she has kids, doesn't have kids, lives in a house with her family, lives in a condo somewhere else. Weird.

Maybe she just doesn’t want to talk to you. I don’t know why you think asking about her personal life is fair game.

[Anonymous]

Oh yes, when I was in my 20s I went to some "lower quality" nail salons with men heading to the back where the waxing rooms were. And I can think of a couple of places in Rockville/Bethesda where there's a guy in charge not that an Asian woman in charge can't also be involved in trafficking.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There was a big NYTimes story about how they're all bad.

My theory is, the work takes place in public view so it's not quite as bad as sex work. I try to identify who the money person is, and I always tip my person well, separately, and I try to do it when the money person isn't looking. Other than that idk what to do about it since I don't know of any clearly above board nail places (chime in if you have one).

Sesen Spa in Vienna

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big NYTimes story about how they're all bad.

My theory is, the work takes place in public view so it's not quite as bad as sex work. I try to identify who the money person is, and I always tip my person well, separately, and I try to do it when the money person isn't looking. Other than that idk what to do about it since I don't know of any clearly above board nail places (chime in if you have one).

Sesen Spa in Vienna

Why do you think Sesen Spa doesn't use trafficked workers?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do you know and who would you call about it?

https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/at-nail-salons-in-nyc-manicurists-are-underpaid-and-unprotected.html

The industry is terribly abusive to the workers. Americans don't care because we like cheap luxuries. I only get my nails done at day spas where the workers are usually American (of any race) because then I can be certain they aren't be held captive or being trafficked. I pay much more for these pedicures ($75 instead of $35-40 at the cheap places) but for me, the peace of mind that I am not supporting a shady industry is worth it. I get fewer pedicures.

We want cheap nails, cheap lawn care, cheap cleaning services in this country and our actions show that we view the workers serving us as disposable. It's deplorable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There was a big NYTimes story about how they're all bad.

My theory is, the work takes place in public view so it's not quite as bad as sex work. I try to identify who the money person is, and I always tip my person well, separately, and I try to do it when the money person isn't looking. Other than that idk what to do about it since I don't know of any clearly above board nail places (chime in if you have one).

Sesen Spa in Vienna

Why do you think Sesen Spa doesn't use trafficked workers?

I think PP meant Sesen Spa as an example of the “clearly above board” nail salons. It has 3 stations and happy-chatty salaried workers.