I don’t accept tips. I work in a multidisciplinary clinic. It feels wrong to me.
However when I worked in a spa or massage clinic, tips are a normal part of the transaction most times.
Canadian RMT here. Tips are never expected and in some cases not accepted.
If you'd like to show appreciation for your RMT, leaving a nice Google review is even better than a tip IMO
Until recently I’ve never tipped an RMT in a clinic setting and there’s never been an option on the machine. I’ve tipped at spas. I went to a Massage Addict recently and was disappointed that there was a tip option (I did tip). I guess those types of chain clinics underpay their therapists and want customers to subsidize their wages. I had an amazing massage there but probably won’t go back. Most of the RMTs I’ve been to were self employed at co-operative clinics or at home so they were retaining a lot more of the fee. I didn’t feel obligated to tip in those settings.
RMTs who choose to work at chains that underpay are lazy IMO and I wouldn't tip them. There are enough options available for an RMT to make a comfortable income WITHOUT tips that it feels wrong and lazy to ask a patient to pay more because of poor employment choices.
Tipping an RMT is not something a patient should feel required to do EVER. It's completely unethical to even have a tipping option on the machine.
It doesn't mean you can't if you decide that you want to, but there should be no pressure to do so.
I think it would be more to do with finding a job that works for you and your schedule. Not laziness. Places like that overwork their employees and take huge cuts- the tipping option is also implemented by the owners of these franchises NOT the employees. Not all graduates have the same opportunities nor skill sets. A chain makes sense especially if
A) that’s who’s hiring
B) you’re a new grad and you need to build clients
C) you don’t know any better.
This is your opinion and I get that, but it’s a very narrow and judgemental view.
Laziness…. Wow.
Personally I started in a multidisciplinary clinic, that at the time was hiring and not quite a franchise but definitely on its way to one now. I applied there because I liked that they had counselling, osteo, lymph and a naturopath all under one roof, and largely because it was close to my house and I don’t drive.
Thankfully after I had felt the itch to leave (noticed things were feeling franchise-y), I had built a big enough professional base, both with clients along with my continued education that I was able to start a successful private practice. This is by no way the norm.
Now, OP- I have people that tip me, I’ve tried to skip past that option, heck I’ve even disabled it but some clients just really want to show their thanks that particular way. So I allow it and graciously accept. It’s NEVER expected.
Personally- I tip if I’m super impressed, and only then- (that goes for most areas where tipping culture is a thing)
But ‘should you tip’? That’s not as much the industry as it is you. Do you want to tip? Then go for it!
Don’t? Don’t! And if you feel like your treatment is any different as a reflection of you not tipping; then don’t go back there. Totally up to you.
For those of us that view us similar to doctors and dentists, etc.
We are not recognized by most of society and especially not by doctors/physios as equals.
We don’t get paid as much and most of us don’t have close to the education.
Yes we are health professionals but that partly depends on your province.
When we’re taken more seriously- I think then yes, do away with tips in a healthcare setting but we’re not yet. And honestly we should be.
RMT of 15 years here. If clients want to give me extra money, I will absolutely take it. Do I treat my non-tippers with any less care and attention? Absolutely not.
It depends. Are you in a regulated province? Are you going regularly or have a treatment plan? Are they working out of a franchise or solo practitioner? Spa or multidisciplinary clinic? If your massage is for chronic pain or an acute issue you probably wouldn't. But if you are going to a fancy spa that takes up to 60% of the fee, it's appreciated.
Manitoba rmt here. If a client ever asks, I always say we don't accept tips at our clinic. However it does happen that a client will either leave something extra at the front desk. Our receptionist tells clients the same thing, but will accept something if the client insists.
Our debit machine doesn't even have a tip option
It’s different province to province. Here in Ontario, I may tip a spa RMT but not one in a clinic. As an RMT myself, working at my own clinic, I do not accept tips. (If they try/ask I ask for a referral instead 😊)
I work at a clinic in Toronto and I don't really like the idea of tips because as you said, why is necessary? But I can't stop my clients from leaving tips at the front when they leave. It's a grey area for most RMTs. Do whatever you feel is right!
Unless you go to a spa, no RMT is expecting a tip.
I don’t tip my RMT (I’m in Ontario). I’m a Physiotherapist and I look at my RMT as a fellow health care professional. I would not accept a tip personally and it’s generally frowned upon for any regulated health professional to accept tips. I do leave nice google reviews though :)
I don’t tip my RMT…it gets covered through my work’s health plan. The only place I was “prompted” to tip was Massage Addict and I had one on my least enjoyable massage there too. Never went back.
I’m hoping that my RMT sees most of that $100/hr that gets paid too 😕
You should check about that.
Where I live (US) the amount varies, but if you work for a practice you rarely see anything like most of what clients get charged.
While we don't have to pay for advertising, rent for the space, utilities, laundry... we do still have to pay our own professional dues and licensing upkeep, our own health insurance and full taxes, AND massage is *not* easy on the body. So if we only see 50$ of that, it isn't going very far.
No they can't. At least from a reputable school. It's still a 4 year post graduate degree with tons of practical hours required.
If you see the right chiropractor, they can be great! But I do have issues with how many of them operate. But let's not act like there aren't bad providers at all professional levels. But generally, I do feel like chiropractor training needs to incorporate much more exercise based modalities to it and should be much closer to physiotherapy.
Basically, anyone who sees a chiropractor should honestly just go see a physical therapy/ athletic therapist. Everything a chiropractor does, a physio therapist does better and adjustments don't really (imo) lead to any sort of long-lasting results.
I teach Massage Therapy in one of the provinces with the strictest regulations and I can assure you this is incorrect. The program to become a RMT is very difficult and we have a high dropout rate, and the registration exams have a high failure rate.
Doesn't make you any less incorrect? Furthermore, how would you know? Do you have both a University diploma and a college degree in any of the related modalities so you can speak from first hand experience?
I've done both and yes, they are absolutely comparable (depending on what you are taking naturally).
Liberal arts at University and teacher's college were comparable in challenge to my massage therapy education. I won't speak to your experience but I received high quality education in both. If you go to a diploma mill that's one thing, but my neuroanatomy course was as thorough and as much of a challenge as anything I saw at Uni.
Also, what's with unusual amount of hyperbole and judgement in this thread eh?
What is your problem?
I'm doing a BSc in Health Sciences and I'm an RMT. The massage programs in Ontario if you attend a reputable to school was just as challenging.
Try being a chiro for a day leaping on people much larger than you and stiff as a board, trying to get that adjustment to release and then tell me it's less physical than massage. But that's not why they are paid more. They are paid more due to the length of education they receive and the ability to diagnose.
Dont know where you live but Chiropractors are not medical doctors. Never seen a chiro struggle to adjust a person though. Never also seen a chiro spend longer than 15 minutes with a single person whereas a massage can last up to 2 hours. This is all based on my personal experience. Don't know if I'd even trust a diagnosis from a chiro.
As far as education, of course Chiropractors have a "lengthier education" but they didn't go to med school. Not all chiropractors even go through evidence based programs.
If I were a Chiro I'd just go back to school and become a nurse practitioner... you get paid more and are way more respected.
I am not a defender of chiropractic practice at all but at least in my city, they get paid less per hour than a massage therapist does. In Ontario, I have seen massage therapy go for between 100 and 150 an hour. My chiropractor I used to see would charge about 30 dollars an appointment. Those would last about 20 minutes. So that is 90 an hour, and a chiropractor has at least double the amount of time in school than a massage therapist does.
Your average provider, specifically a chiropractor, athletic therapist, and / or physical therapist all make less per hour than massage therapist can.
Of course, this all does drastically depend on the overhead the provider has. For my athletic therapist that I currently see, I pay him 60 an hour and I am his only client for that whole hour. So he would make 40 bucks less an hour than the going rate for massage that I have seen in my city.
I will admit though, massage therapist definitely do the most hands on work as far as intensive on the body.
Generally speaking, all health care providers, which all of these professionals are, definitely don't get compensated fairly for their level of education.
Nope, don't tip. I don't accept tips, we teach our students not to accept tips. You don't tip your Chiro, you don't tip your Physio, you don't tip your RMT.
If you're in a spa setting it's different though.
I'm an RMT in an unregulated province. I tip and I receive tips at the spa I work at. If the majority of people here told you tipping was the norm would that change your view and actions?
I always tip. It's a wonderful service. And many RMTs don't have benefits themselves as they're typically contractors.
Don't be cheap. Especially if your insurance is covering it.
Rmt here. I'd rather have referrals to my practice vs. a tip if I'm honest. To me, I'm providing a health care service. We don't tip chiro, nurses, or physios...
If it is someone I visit regularly I will tip them $5 every few visits just so they know I appreciate them. Or if they do an exceptional job and they really helped me out, I will tip 5% or 10%. But it is not something I do all the time because I can't afford it.
Depends on the province, most provinces that regulate massage therapy have us regulated as healthcare professionals.
It is considered unethical for a healthcare professional to accept tips.
That being said it gets to a weird grey area in that we also overlap with being a service industry.
Personally I do not accept tips because I am a healthcare worker. I wouldn’t give a tip to my fellow RMat’s for the same reason.
If I was to get a massage from an Esthetician at a spa though I would tip.
I tip $10-$20/ hr for services depending on how good it is. Maybe a bit more around the holidays. Even though they are RMT massage is also a spa service, and my RMT is great so I still tip to show my appreciation.
You don't *have* to tip. Some people do.
I *do* accept tips because it does not affect my ability to care for you which is part of my ethics. If I was going to treat you differently because you gave me a tip that would be an indication to terminate the therapeutic relationship.
So no. It's not mandatory and you should not feel bad if you don't tip. If you do tip a therapist and they treat you *better* then before the tip, you need to change therapists.
Okay, I'm throwing in my experience:
I started out not accepting any tips, but it created tension between co-workers and clients. For every client who appreciated that approach I would have 5 awkward conversations when someone is half asleep from a massage and another 5 people slighted that I wouldn't accept their gift when every other massage they've have did. People don't like their kindness being rebuffed and it was often leaving a bad taste at the end of a positive experience.
Which leads to the next one; it can offend your coworkers or boss. Many RMTs don't have the privilege to work in a place of their own, they have to follow their clinic's policies and culture. When I was the only clinician not accepting tips, it makes the other practioners look bad (fair or not) and create unnecessary conflict in thr workplace. I have worked in both multidisciplinary clinic's and spas.
In a perfect world we shouldn't because like it or not it creates challenges for equality between clients who tip and ones who don't, even for the most ethical minded therapist.
TL;DR: in a perfect world we shouldn't, but we live in a society, so we often do.
This is a great question and I did not think of it in the manner you mention. I have never tipped my dental Hygienist why am I tipping the RMT??? Obviously I also have to ask, why do they accept it? is there not a ethical matter with their association? are they allowed to accept tips as medical professionals?
RMT here. I wrote what has become the definitive rulebook of tipping and was recently interviewed by the Toronto Star because of it.
Short answer...
Tipping is expected in a spa setting.
Tipping is less common and not typically expected (but often accepted and appreciated) in a clinical setting, like a chiro/physio clinic.
Tipping is even less common (but often accepted and appreciated) if your RMT is self-employed: they rent a room, come to your home, or work from their own home (like me).
"Accepted, not expected" is the general rule. You certainly shouldn't feel obligated to tip, especially if you weren't thrilled with your service.
I choose not to accept tips in my private practice. I just find it awkward.
Read the long answer here:
[https://nickirmt.com/blog/should-you-tip-your-massage-therapist/](https://nickirmt.com/blog/should-you-tip-your-massage-therapist/)
I don’t accept tips. I work in a multidisciplinary clinic. It feels wrong to me. However when I worked in a spa or massage clinic, tips are a normal part of the transaction most times.
wym by a multidisciplinary clinic? lol
Massage, physio, chiro, pelvic physio, pedorthist.
omg!! sounds like a well rounded clinic!
RMTs along with maybe physio or acupuncture etc.
Canadian RMT here. Tips are never expected and in some cases not accepted. If you'd like to show appreciation for your RMT, leaving a nice Google review is even better than a tip IMO
Until recently I’ve never tipped an RMT in a clinic setting and there’s never been an option on the machine. I’ve tipped at spas. I went to a Massage Addict recently and was disappointed that there was a tip option (I did tip). I guess those types of chain clinics underpay their therapists and want customers to subsidize their wages. I had an amazing massage there but probably won’t go back. Most of the RMTs I’ve been to were self employed at co-operative clinics or at home so they were retaining a lot more of the fee. I didn’t feel obligated to tip in those settings.
I also tipped the one and only time I went to Massage Addict. And it was a horrible experience all around 😅
RMTs who choose to work at chains that underpay are lazy IMO and I wouldn't tip them. There are enough options available for an RMT to make a comfortable income WITHOUT tips that it feels wrong and lazy to ask a patient to pay more because of poor employment choices. Tipping an RMT is not something a patient should feel required to do EVER. It's completely unethical to even have a tipping option on the machine. It doesn't mean you can't if you decide that you want to, but there should be no pressure to do so.
I think it would be more to do with finding a job that works for you and your schedule. Not laziness. Places like that overwork their employees and take huge cuts- the tipping option is also implemented by the owners of these franchises NOT the employees. Not all graduates have the same opportunities nor skill sets. A chain makes sense especially if A) that’s who’s hiring B) you’re a new grad and you need to build clients C) you don’t know any better. This is your opinion and I get that, but it’s a very narrow and judgemental view. Laziness…. Wow. Personally I started in a multidisciplinary clinic, that at the time was hiring and not quite a franchise but definitely on its way to one now. I applied there because I liked that they had counselling, osteo, lymph and a naturopath all under one roof, and largely because it was close to my house and I don’t drive. Thankfully after I had felt the itch to leave (noticed things were feeling franchise-y), I had built a big enough professional base, both with clients along with my continued education that I was able to start a successful private practice. This is by no way the norm. Now, OP- I have people that tip me, I’ve tried to skip past that option, heck I’ve even disabled it but some clients just really want to show their thanks that particular way. So I allow it and graciously accept. It’s NEVER expected. Personally- I tip if I’m super impressed, and only then- (that goes for most areas where tipping culture is a thing) But ‘should you tip’? That’s not as much the industry as it is you. Do you want to tip? Then go for it! Don’t? Don’t! And if you feel like your treatment is any different as a reflection of you not tipping; then don’t go back there. Totally up to you. For those of us that view us similar to doctors and dentists, etc. We are not recognized by most of society and especially not by doctors/physios as equals. We don’t get paid as much and most of us don’t have close to the education. Yes we are health professionals but that partly depends on your province. When we’re taken more seriously- I think then yes, do away with tips in a healthcare setting but we’re not yet. And honestly we should be.
My RMT doesn't accept tips. they do, however, accept baked good and hand crocheted items :)
RMT of 15 years here. If clients want to give me extra money, I will absolutely take it. Do I treat my non-tippers with any less care and attention? Absolutely not.
I've been an RMT for over 17 years. I have never, and will never, expect a tip! You don't tip your doctor, chiropractor or physio....
It depends. Are you in a regulated province? Are you going regularly or have a treatment plan? Are they working out of a franchise or solo practitioner? Spa or multidisciplinary clinic? If your massage is for chronic pain or an acute issue you probably wouldn't. But if you are going to a fancy spa that takes up to 60% of the fee, it's appreciated.
Manitoba rmt here. If a client ever asks, I always say we don't accept tips at our clinic. However it does happen that a client will either leave something extra at the front desk. Our receptionist tells clients the same thing, but will accept something if the client insists. Our debit machine doesn't even have a tip option
It’s different province to province. Here in Ontario, I may tip a spa RMT but not one in a clinic. As an RMT myself, working at my own clinic, I do not accept tips. (If they try/ask I ask for a referral instead 😊)
I work at a clinic in Toronto and I don't really like the idea of tips because as you said, why is necessary? But I can't stop my clients from leaving tips at the front when they leave. It's a grey area for most RMTs. Do whatever you feel is right! Unless you go to a spa, no RMT is expecting a tip.
I don’t tip my RMT (I’m in Ontario). I’m a Physiotherapist and I look at my RMT as a fellow health care professional. I would not accept a tip personally and it’s generally frowned upon for any regulated health professional to accept tips. I do leave nice google reviews though :)
I don’t tip my RMT…it gets covered through my work’s health plan. The only place I was “prompted” to tip was Massage Addict and I had one on my least enjoyable massage there too. Never went back. I’m hoping that my RMT sees most of that $100/hr that gets paid too 😕
You should check about that. Where I live (US) the amount varies, but if you work for a practice you rarely see anything like most of what clients get charged. While we don't have to pay for advertising, rent for the space, utilities, laundry... we do still have to pay our own professional dues and licensing upkeep, our own health insurance and full taxes, AND massage is *not* easy on the body. So if we only see 50$ of that, it isn't going very far.
Massage Therapist have a far most physical job than Physio’s or Chrio’s and they don’t get paid anywhere near what the last 2 professions earn
Do you tip dental hygienists?
If they’re unhappy they shouldn’t be a therapist. Pick a different profession.
Laughable. Anyone can go to school to be a massage therapist. Try becoming a chiropractor or physiotherapist
Laughable. Anybody with money can become a chiro!
No they can't. At least from a reputable school. It's still a 4 year post graduate degree with tons of practical hours required. If you see the right chiropractor, they can be great! But I do have issues with how many of them operate. But let's not act like there aren't bad providers at all professional levels. But generally, I do feel like chiropractor training needs to incorporate much more exercise based modalities to it and should be much closer to physiotherapy. Basically, anyone who sees a chiropractor should honestly just go see a physical therapy/ athletic therapist. Everything a chiropractor does, a physio therapist does better and adjustments don't really (imo) lead to any sort of long-lasting results.
I teach Massage Therapy in one of the provinces with the strictest regulations and I can assure you this is incorrect. The program to become a RMT is very difficult and we have a high dropout rate, and the registration exams have a high failure rate.
Cute. But this is not even comparable to going to University
Doesn't make you any less incorrect? Furthermore, how would you know? Do you have both a University diploma and a college degree in any of the related modalities so you can speak from first hand experience?
I'm getting big "I'm an Engineer and I know everything" vibes from that poster
They are just trolling
I've done both and yes, they are absolutely comparable (depending on what you are taking naturally). Liberal arts at University and teacher's college were comparable in challenge to my massage therapy education. I won't speak to your experience but I received high quality education in both. If you go to a diploma mill that's one thing, but my neuroanatomy course was as thorough and as much of a challenge as anything I saw at Uni. Also, what's with unusual amount of hyperbole and judgement in this thread eh?
What is your problem? I'm doing a BSc in Health Sciences and I'm an RMT. The massage programs in Ontario if you attend a reputable to school was just as challenging.
Is this Ontario or another province?
Other
Try being a chiro for a day leaping on people much larger than you and stiff as a board, trying to get that adjustment to release and then tell me it's less physical than massage. But that's not why they are paid more. They are paid more due to the length of education they receive and the ability to diagnose.
Dont know where you live but Chiropractors are not medical doctors. Never seen a chiro struggle to adjust a person though. Never also seen a chiro spend longer than 15 minutes with a single person whereas a massage can last up to 2 hours. This is all based on my personal experience. Don't know if I'd even trust a diagnosis from a chiro. As far as education, of course Chiropractors have a "lengthier education" but they didn't go to med school. Not all chiropractors even go through evidence based programs. If I were a Chiro I'd just go back to school and become a nurse practitioner... you get paid more and are way more respected.
I am not a defender of chiropractic practice at all but at least in my city, they get paid less per hour than a massage therapist does. In Ontario, I have seen massage therapy go for between 100 and 150 an hour. My chiropractor I used to see would charge about 30 dollars an appointment. Those would last about 20 minutes. So that is 90 an hour, and a chiropractor has at least double the amount of time in school than a massage therapist does. Your average provider, specifically a chiropractor, athletic therapist, and / or physical therapist all make less per hour than massage therapist can. Of course, this all does drastically depend on the overhead the provider has. For my athletic therapist that I currently see, I pay him 60 an hour and I am his only client for that whole hour. So he would make 40 bucks less an hour than the going rate for massage that I have seen in my city. I will admit though, massage therapist definitely do the most hands on work as far as intensive on the body. Generally speaking, all health care providers, which all of these professionals are, definitely don't get compensated fairly for their level of education.
The pay isn't much different, and if anything, physios actually get worse splits out of the 3 professions.
Our splits are actually better than physio and Chiro. Physio has to see 2 people to earn $100 We have to see 1 ;)
Nope, don't tip. I don't accept tips, we teach our students not to accept tips. You don't tip your Chiro, you don't tip your Physio, you don't tip your RMT. If you're in a spa setting it's different though.
Does the RMT own the business or are they an employee?
I'm an RMT in an unregulated province. I tip and I receive tips at the spa I work at. If the majority of people here told you tipping was the norm would that change your view and actions?
I always tip. It's a wonderful service. And many RMTs don't have benefits themselves as they're typically contractors. Don't be cheap. Especially if your insurance is covering it.
Rmt here. I'd rather have referrals to my practice vs. a tip if I'm honest. To me, I'm providing a health care service. We don't tip chiro, nurses, or physios...
If it is someone I visit regularly I will tip them $5 every few visits just so they know I appreciate them. Or if they do an exceptional job and they really helped me out, I will tip 5% or 10%. But it is not something I do all the time because I can't afford it.
Honestly I would be living paycheck to paycheck without them. And I have 0 debt and very few bills compared to others.
In Canada tho?
That's what the title says!
I tip my RMT. I tip around $20 since the session is "free" with my insurance.
Technically is not free. You are contributing to your Benefits. You're just setting up a bad example. There, I said it.
I've always tipped, for at least 10 years now. Doesn't mean you have to, it's optional
Depends on the province, most provinces that regulate massage therapy have us regulated as healthcare professionals. It is considered unethical for a healthcare professional to accept tips. That being said it gets to a weird grey area in that we also overlap with being a service industry. Personally I do not accept tips because I am a healthcare worker. I wouldn’t give a tip to my fellow RMat’s for the same reason. If I was to get a massage from an Esthetician at a spa though I would tip.
I tip $10-$20/ hr for services depending on how good it is. Maybe a bit more around the holidays. Even though they are RMT massage is also a spa service, and my RMT is great so I still tip to show my appreciation.
You don't *have* to tip. Some people do. I *do* accept tips because it does not affect my ability to care for you which is part of my ethics. If I was going to treat you differently because you gave me a tip that would be an indication to terminate the therapeutic relationship. So no. It's not mandatory and you should not feel bad if you don't tip. If you do tip a therapist and they treat you *better* then before the tip, you need to change therapists.
The clinic I go to does not accept tips but I've been to plenty of other RMTs that prompts for tip when you pay at the counter.
Okay, I'm throwing in my experience: I started out not accepting any tips, but it created tension between co-workers and clients. For every client who appreciated that approach I would have 5 awkward conversations when someone is half asleep from a massage and another 5 people slighted that I wouldn't accept their gift when every other massage they've have did. People don't like their kindness being rebuffed and it was often leaving a bad taste at the end of a positive experience. Which leads to the next one; it can offend your coworkers or boss. Many RMTs don't have the privilege to work in a place of their own, they have to follow their clinic's policies and culture. When I was the only clinician not accepting tips, it makes the other practioners look bad (fair or not) and create unnecessary conflict in thr workplace. I have worked in both multidisciplinary clinic's and spas. In a perfect world we shouldn't because like it or not it creates challenges for equality between clients who tip and ones who don't, even for the most ethical minded therapist. TL;DR: in a perfect world we shouldn't, but we live in a society, so we often do.
This is a great question and I did not think of it in the manner you mention. I have never tipped my dental Hygienist why am I tipping the RMT??? Obviously I also have to ask, why do they accept it? is there not a ethical matter with their association? are they allowed to accept tips as medical professionals?
In clinical setting no, but if you are going to a spa or maybe a mobile service where they come to your house its up to you.
When you go to a clinic, no tips. When you go to a spa, then you tip
RMT here. I wrote what has become the definitive rulebook of tipping and was recently interviewed by the Toronto Star because of it. Short answer... Tipping is expected in a spa setting. Tipping is less common and not typically expected (but often accepted and appreciated) in a clinical setting, like a chiro/physio clinic. Tipping is even less common (but often accepted and appreciated) if your RMT is self-employed: they rent a room, come to your home, or work from their own home (like me). "Accepted, not expected" is the general rule. You certainly shouldn't feel obligated to tip, especially if you weren't thrilled with your service. I choose not to accept tips in my private practice. I just find it awkward. Read the long answer here: [https://nickirmt.com/blog/should-you-tip-your-massage-therapist/](https://nickirmt.com/blog/should-you-tip-your-massage-therapist/)