March 30, 2023
Lifestyle
· Registered Massage Therapy
Tipping Your Massage Therapist
If you want to start a long-winded debate amongst a group of Registered Massage Therapists (RMTs), just ask them how they feel about tipping.
Tipping delegitimatizes Massage Therapy in the medical space.
Massage Therapy is healthcare.
In British Columbia, RMTs are regulated healthcare providers. With 3300+ hours of formal education, we’re among the highest-trained in the world. Despite this, we’re the only healthcare workers in the province who can accept tips, because of the fluidity in our practicing environment. Our workspaces range from clinics to palliative care homes, to sporting events and spas.
Ultimately, regardless of the climate we’re in, RMTs are still healthcare providers, and if you don’t tip your physiotherapist or dentist, it’s not necessary to tip your Massage Therapist. The intentions behind expressing gratitude through tipping is appreciated, but it also works to delegitimatize Massage Therapy in the medical space. Although it has come a long way, massage therapy’s legal landscape is lagged by its integration.
Tips convey meaning.
Tipping is a language and not everyone is fluent. For many, tips are performance ratings in dollars. As a healthcare provider, it’s our legal duty to provide best practices. We’re absolutely ecstatic if our treatments have helped you, but tipping isn’t necessary because excellent service should be the standard. Again, if your dentist filled your cavity, that is the expectation, and does not warrant a reward.
We're happy to help.
The next time you’d like to express gratitude towards your Massage Therapist, trade your change for a verbal acknowledgement or positive Google review (nudge, nudge). Playing the role of our walking portfolio, your contribution to our growing patient network means so much more.
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