Would you tip a massage therapist in a doctor's office?

[nicole]

My doctor recommended I get some massages to deal with some bad tension headaches I've been getting.

I decided I'd rather not go to a spa-type place, and wound up finding a massage therapist at a chiropractor's office.

I saw her once and got a massage and it wasn't until I was paying that I wondered what the etiquette is on tipping in that kind of situation. It kind of remedied itself that time because I only had my debit card with me and their card machine didn't have a place on it for tips, but I'm supposed to get several of these done and I've now been procrastinating for a few weeks because I'm not sure what to do in this situation.

So what is considered proper in this situation? Would it be offensive to offer a tip, or would it be offensive not to? Thanks!

[brenda]

Ask. That's the only way you can be sure. My massage therapist rents her space at the chiropractor's office where she works. I tip her when she goes above and beyond, but generally she gets her rate because she's her own boss.

[tenofcups]

It wouldn't occur to me to tip someone in a medical setting. I got therapeutic massages over a period of 6 months or so some years ago in a doctor's office, didn't tip, and never even thought about tipping till this post. But now that I've thought about, I still don't think I would.

[Ilovemygeek]

I don't think it is necessary to tip someone working in a medical office. It would not occur to me to tip an aesthetician working out of a doctor's office for a facial or chemical peel, but I would at a spa. Same goes for a massage.

[HeatherH]

I have wondered this myself. I got deep tissue massage for a span of a few months on a lien (due to a car accident/injury lawsuit) from a massage therapist at a chiropractor's office. I wasn't paying anything out of pocket during that time and I wondered if I was supposed to be tipping??? :eek: :confused:

[{b}]

My husband is a chiro and I asked him about this. He said some people tip the massage therapist, some don't. If someone asks, he said he "politely implies that it's nice to do."

[udsweetpea]

Ooh, that's a toughie. At first, I wouldn't think to tip, but I know I'd think about it on the way home and start to feel bad.

What percentage should we tips massage therapists at spas? 20%?