HIGHLIGHTS
- State Laws
- Professional Boundaries
- Client Comfort
- Clear Policy
- Alternative Appreciation
- Receptionist Training
Tipping has become common for many services, especially with the rise of iPad and POS systems that prompt customers to tip at checkout. However, when it comes to medical procedures performed by injectors, the topic of tipping can be touchy and complex. Here, we’ll explore the pros and cons of accepting tips for injectors, the state laws in Washington and Oregon, and provide suggestions on how to handle tipping in your medspa.
The State Laws
Based on my research, there are no specific state laws that explicitly address whether injectors, such as those administering Botox or dermal fillers, can accept tips. However, several professional and ethical considerations come into play, which can influence policies on tipping.
My Take on Tipping for Injectors
I don’t love it, never have. Injectors, who perform medical procedures…
(and yes Botox, Filler, Threads… are considered medical procedures even if they are also aesthetic treatments),
…should not accept tips.
Here’s why:
- Professional Boundaries: In most medical settings, including medspas, it is generally considered inappropriate for medical professionals to accept tips as it can blur the lines between professional medical care and personal services (ReplenishMD Training) (American Med Spa Association).
- Medical Ethics: Medical boards and professional codes of conduct often discourage practices that could be perceived as compromising the integrity of medical care. Tipping could potentially fall into this category, although it is not explicitly regulated by state laws (American Med Spa Association)
- Clinic Policies: Individual clinics and medspas may have their own policies regarding tipping. These policies often reflect the professional standards expected in medical settings, which usually discourage or prohibit tipping for medical services (FabHandbook)
While the general concensus is that tipping Injectors is a bad practice, tips can supplement an injector’s income and motivate to provide excellent service. However, a medspa owner should compensate and incentivize their injectors in other ways: ie, rentention rates, training, etc.
Handling Tipping at Your Medspa
To ensure a smooth and comfortable experience for your clients, consider the following steps:
1. Clear Policy: Establish a clear no-tipping policy for injectors. Communicate this policy to your clients to set the right expectations.
*Medspa Owners – avoid the temptation to use tipping as a way to pay your injectors less. A clear policy that is followed will be much better for your medspa’s long term growth. See #2
2. POS System Instructions: Train your receptionists to inform clients to ignore the tipping screen on the POS system when they are checking out injectors. This can be done politely and professionally before they reach the checkout screen and it will avoid any uncomfortableness on the part of the client. Clients will appreciate this practice which will help with retention and referrals (trust me, they all talk about their injectors and medspas to their friends).
Alternative Appreciation: Encourage clients to show their appreciation through other means. Here’s a suggested script for your receptionists:
Try this instead
“Thank you so much for your visit today!
We have a no-tipping policy for our medical procedures to maintain a professional environment.
If you enjoyed your service, the best way to show your appreciation would be to leave us a Google review or refer a friend. Your feedback and referrals mean the world to us!”
While tipping is common in many service industries, and pretty much everywhere we go lately, it’s important to consider the unique nature of medical procedures performed by injectors.
By establishing a clear policy and providing alternative ways for clients to show their appreciation, you can maintain a professional environment and ensure a comfortable experience for everyone.
