do you get to keep your tips?

[Grak]

when i was in school in texas, we were not allowed to accept any tips as students. we were supposed to flat out refuse, explaining to people that we were students and could not take any money.

here in colorado springs, it seems we are allowed to accept any tip we feel comfortable. the stipulation is that we cannot specify an amount. like if the person asked how much we normally get tipped, we can't say an amount (that would somehow be charging a price.

just was wondering what the tipping situation is like for everyone else. please list what state you are studying in.

thanks.

 

[x-musiclover-x]

Our school (Wisconsin, 4 years ago) collected the tips at the student clinic, and each class's tips were kept together. This paid for (or went towards) our graduation party. We did not receive cash tips personally at the student clinic though it was/is not illegal for students to accept pay.

 

[M3x!TaL!aN0]

I went to school in Minneapolis, MN from 2004 - 2006 (part-time) and we were able to accept tips.

 

[etain.r]

Our school (Wisconsin, 4 years ago) collected the tips at the student clinic, and each class's tips were kept together. This paid for (or went towards) our graduation party. We did not receive cash tips personally at the student clinic though it was/is not illegal for students to accept pay.

Same school, I'm sure-
We didn't have a grad party, so we just split the tips evenly at the end of the year.

 

[Fideal]

We where not allowed to accept compensation of ANY kind. A big deal was made that means, cash, candy, flowers, you name it. It was tough sometimes as the clients felt the need. But I just explained that the best tip they could offer is to remember me when I am licensed and share my name with friends. And I really did mean that. However, off topic but i didn't keep many practice clients as paying ones.

 

[Naush...]

Hello,
I studied in Missouri, and our school did the same thing as Rose of Sharon's school. The school kept any tips for our class, and then at graduation, they used the money to buy gifts for each of the students. In Missouri, (as I understand it), it is against the law for students to accept tips and/or payment for massages.
~Christine

 

[Nobody]

At the school I went to here in Phoenix we were not allowed to accept any tips. Up till last semester they didn't even charge for the massages! Now they ask for a $10 donation, but its still not required.

 

[Pompal 09.]

In Northern California we did the tips -> party thing, too.

 

[Person]

The school I went to in NJ encouraged tips and we were allowed to keep. The school I went to in NY strictly forbid tips.

 

[moo goo gai pan]

The school I went to in the Phoenix area encouraged tipping. In fact, there was a sign in the student clinic saying "tips graciously accepted. Just about everybody left a tip.

 

[howtodeal2008]

A lot of it depends on the laws in your state. For instance, in Florida it is illegal to accept compensation of any kind until you are licensed. So, the schools here shouldn't allow tipping in their clinic.

Laws vary from state to state.

Angie

 

[Kate D.]

At the school I go to tips are accepted by students

 

[ahhao]

Yeah, ccMarie is right about Texas. STILL can't accept tips. Kind of stupid, really, because part of our requirements are related to the business end of massage therapy, and learning how to graciously accept a tip IS usually part of the business. What's funny is, I've gotten my hair done at some of the local cosmetology schools and while they don't get paid for the work they do either, they CAN accept tips--how on earth is THAT fair?

Either way, whenever we had a client who insisted that they really wanted to leave a tip, we had some cool receptionists at my MT school who would advise them to just leave cash on the table in the room on their way out. Worked out great for us!

Maybe someday we'll get that ridiculous law changed
~Jyoti

 

[Duddeee]

No compensation allowed for the unlicensed in WA state. Includes tips, gifts, etc.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Well, I went to school 10 years ago and the school I went to is no longer in Wisconsin. (They still have 3 schools in Iowa though.) But we were Not allowed to accept tips. The instructor said, "You don't tip your chiropractor or your dentist, do you?" She obviously wanted us to consider massage as health care, ironic when you consider it was also a cosmetology school!

While tipping wasn't allowed for us, I was under the impression that it had more to do with a insurance/legal status thing than it being against state law.
That if you accepted money (even a tip) from a client while in school, you were accepting compensation and could no longer be considered a student. Therefore, you would have to have your own liability insurance, as the school's insurance would no longer cover you should one of your clients become injured.

Jyoti, I had a client leave money on the table once. I didn't like it. I found it demeaning. I suppose it just could have been the client. :roll:

 

[Drixnot]

The school I went to (Oklahoma) allowed tipping and we got to keep it. That is what paid for my gas and lunch money.

 

[northernredneck65]

In Ohio we are not allowed to accept gifts or payment of any kind. Before boards I'm told they're going to ask if we have an if the answer would be yes they can deny us a liscense.

 

[Palestinian]

At the school I attend in IL we are not allowed to keep tips. All money that is earned goes directly back into the program. From my understanding sometimes she will use that money towards a party for us or something at the end of the semester, but most will be used to better the program.

 

[robbinhood]

The school I went to (Oklahoma) allowed tipping and we got to keep it. That is what paid for my gas and lunch money.

That's becuase Oklahoma doesn't have any state-wide restrictions. The school I went to in Oklahoma didn't keep student massage prices. The school across town made their students sign in the contract that they would do 50 hours practice massages FOR THE SCHOOL without pay. The school then charged $25 for "student massages" and pocketed the money. I always found that a little low in my mind.

*laughing* You don't have to be licensed or trained at all in Oklahoma. There's a lady at the local hair salon who charges $20 an hour for massages and has NO training whatsoever. I once approached her about carpooling to Dallas for a continuing education class and she said "Oh no - I never go to any classes. They cost way too much money." I said, "You've never gone to ANY classes" and she was like, "Nope. I have good hands so I don't need any education".

*rolls eyes*

True story.

Angela

 

[tillyinwonderland]

The school across town made their students sign in the contract that they would do 50 hours practice massages FOR THE SCHOOL without pay. The school then charged $25 for "student massages" and pocketed the money. I always found that a little low in my mind.

The school that I went to required 60 hrs of clinic time for graduation, though we were allowed to keep tips. Since they were charging in the area of $45 for a 60 min student massage (pro services started at $75) the question came up about "where does the money go?" Well, when you start figuring things like rent, supply costs, staffing for scheduling/supervisors/instructors, utilities, and laundry services, IF they were making money off the students work, it wasn't a heck of a lot.