Do you tip a personal trainer?

[G Vice]

It isn’t about whether I can afford it. I can afford to tip my dentist but it isn’t expected or appropriate. I’m trying to figure out what category PTs are in — dentist or massage therapist tip territory? It’s sounding more like they’re in mail carrier territory — not expected, always appreciated, usually around Christmas

I've never heard of anyone tipping their dentist. It is not customary, nor is it expected, to tip medical/healthcare professionals (I am one). But well-meaning clients/patients want to do this sometimes, usually during the holidays. They might give a gift card of some sort or bake some cookies for staff, and that's okay.

Do personal trainers fall in to the same category and healthcare professionals ? They may do good work, but the business model can be quite different, and I'm not arguing their value. But they usually aren't counting on tips for income like others in service industry.

I tip my haircut person every time I go, and massage therapist (but I only make time for that once or twice per year).

 

[ProfAndyCarp]

I’ll be starting a personal training program at the local rec center. It costs about $80/session paid to the center. Is this like massage where the practitioner only gets a bit of that and I am expected to supplement with tips? If so, how much?

I never have tipped my trainer of 10 years, but I do give her a small gift at the end of the year — a book, usually.

 

[keangkong]

I’ll be starting a personal training program at the local rec center. It costs about $80/session paid to the center. Is this like massage where the practitioner only gets a bit of that and I am expected to supplement with tips? If so, how much?

I'm not sure I'm an authority on etiquette, but I wouldn't tip unless the prices were super low.

 

[scarywood75]

Hey guys don't become like Canada, we tip for nothing and everything it's just crazy. There's even tip suggestions now when you buy IN A STORE like wtf

 

[PhoenixPalmer]

I don't tip but I do give my trainer a gift every once in a while

 

[Nikon1149]

Man the tipping culture in the US is crazy. Tipping your mailman?

I have worked food service delivery jobs for many many years where I live in the UK, and i'd say maybe 5% of customers tip. I'd always be grateful, but it's just not expected.

I'm pretty sure we have better minimum wage laws out here though, so employers are required to pay at least £11 an hour even for low entry level stuff. Still a low wage, but holy crap I just googled this, and federal min wage is only $7.25, that's really bad. Even worse minimum wage for tipped workers is $2.13, that is utterly astounding.

I learned something very sad today, man those labour laws are third world, what the hell.

No offense my American chums! but literally anywhere in europe has so much better protections for low level workers.

 

[nonyabizznez]

No offense my American chums! but literally anywhere in europe has so much better protections for low level workers.

And y'all's vacation time!