Tipping vets?

[poiuytrewq]

I’ve been on the phone on and off to a vet this eve and commented to my oh how hard they work after she told me her probable work load tonight.
He said they earn enough... so of course an argument followed! The vet in question is newly qualified and works her ass off. I looked up vet wages to confirm which was correct.
Bit horrified at the x amount including bonus’s over time and tips?!
Now I feel really terrible! Tell me tipping a vet isn’t a thing?
Ive had some amazing vet service, literally saving or doing a fantastic job when we can’t save and I’ve never tipped, it’s never occurred to me.

 

[poiuytrewq]

To clarify, I’m not horrified at what they earn, but by the fact I’ve never tipped one.
I feel the wage compared to workload shockingly minimal.

 

[Michen]

I’ve never tipped no but the odd bottle of gin or bunch of flowers has gone down really well. I don’t think many or any would accept cash tips.

 

[Jeni the dragon]

I've never tipped mine, though I'll often drop off a box of biscuits or chocolates.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

As a vet: no cash tips aren’t a thing, I don’t know anyone who has received one! (And I’m not sure where we’d stand on accepting them)

But a thank you card (or text/email) can make our day, and the odd box of chocolates/biscuits/flowers/alcohol is always very much appreciated.

 

[millikins]

No I wouldn't give a vet a tip, same as I wouldn't give a doctor a tip but a gift would be appreciated I'm sure. I'm a nurse and was given a tip by an undertaker when I worked in a private hospital. He had come to collect a body and we had no porter for some reason, as he left he thrust £2 into my hand, I asked what for, he said "I always tip the porter, he's not here so I'll tip you". Only time in 30 years!

 

[DSB]

Chocolate,cake,wine are all welcome.As is a card with a nice note/photo of animal,once recovered.

 

[EllenJay]

No - never tip vets. You do a job, you get paid a wage. I also never tip my hairdresser- but he owns the business. I don’t tip my farrier. I also don’t tip the supermarket checkout lady. If someone has gone above and beyond then I will get them a gift

 

[twobearsarthur]

No - never tip vets. You do a job, you get paid a wage. I also never tip my hairdresser- but he owns the business. I don’t tip my farrier. I also don’t tip the supermarket checkout lady. If someone has gone above and beyond then I will get them a gift

Same here. I don’t tip. I have however given gifts (chocolates, gin, flowers etc) to my vet, estate agent-she saved me from a house move nervous breakdown! Etc

 

[Redders]

I keep any cards owners send me and like to look at them when I’ve had a tough day never had a cash tip, and really wouldn’t expect or want one - I’m just doing my job!

 

[gallopingby]

I‘m sure many people would be surprised if they knew how much newly qualified vets earn In comparison with others who have spent less time at uni / training.

 

[Winters100]

I have never tipped mine, but I do make sure that I am always on time with horses ready when he comes, I pay him in cash at the time, or in case of unexpected emergency by bank transfer immediately after. I try to be a good client who follows advice and is easy to deal with, and I am always clear about how urgent an issue is - for routine or non-urgent things I always tell him that since I am at the yard every day he can just message me when it is convenient to drop by. If he is late or cancels my non urgent visit because of an emergency I do not complain, after all if I have an emergency I would like him to make it a priority. At Christmas I send a case of wine, and if one has had a lot of vet attention or something out of hours there is a bottle of whisky or something else. In my opinion what vets want most from us as owners is to be treated with respect, have their advice followed, and paid on time.

 

[Lois Lame]

I'm a little confused. Why would anyone tip a vet?

ETA: Sorry, not a helpful comment.

I once thought of trying to do a picture of our long legged little dog when the time to have him put down. That vet was so nice. He had various pictures on the walls that had obviously been done by thankful clients. Looked lovely. I never got the picture done though. Too worried about it.

 

[Red-1]

How much does a newly qualified vet earn, out of interest?

 

[rabatsa]

I given a bottle of single malt to a young vet who had just dealt with a tricky case, which ended with a bad outcome. The poor lad had done his best, asked senior partners for advice, gone above and beyond. It was not his fault that a difficult pts occurred.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I’m so relieved ? I had visions of my vets thinking I was an ungrateful tightwad!
I’ve done the cards etc thing.

 

[throwawayaccount]

i've never tipped, however this month I did send my vet and all the staff a big cadburys goodie selection (via the gift section on cadburys site) as big thank you for all of their ongoing support

 

[blitznbobs]

The only time I tip is in restaurants and America... I did bake some cakes and take in chocolates when horse had colic surgery but that is different.

 

[Redders]

How much does a newly qualified vet earn, out of interest?

I earn £29k. Graduated last June
That’s quite good, some of my friends are on £21k but have accommodation provided as part of an internship, others are in £24k with a car

 

[Umbongo]

Nope, never heard of a vet getting tipped. Not sure they would be allowed to accept one anyway, but gifts are always welcome and very much appreciated!

Vets salaries are generally between 25-30k for a new grad and up to 50k for an experienced vet. Some may earn less or more depending on the vets skills, area and type of practice eg: general practice vs specialist. A lot of veterinary staff will also work extra hours every night, weekends etc and not get paid overtime. I am an experienced veterinary nurse and earn much less than that

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I earn £29k. Graduated last June
That’s quite good, some of my friends are on £21k but have accommodation provided as part of an internship, others are in £24k with a car

I’m the same, but I qualified in 2019. It does vary depending on where you work, but I’d say that is fairly average for a new grad if you’ve not got a car/accommodation provided. And yes unfortunately no overtime pay, and contract is to work one night a week and one weekend in 4 (5pm Friday-9am Monday)

 

[Widgeon]

I'll be honest, these posts about vet starting salaries are quite eye opening - I've never been one to complain about vet bills or vet staff salaries, but I really thought they'd be a bit higher than that, given the overtime, stress, responsibility etc (oh yes and 7 years of training!!). Still, I'd better not say any more, if my vet bills got any higher I wouldn't be able to afford to keep animals at all.

 

[TPO]

I have never tipped in cash but as above chocolates, brownies & cakes.

My vet went above and beyond when Vinnie was ill and the girls in the office were lovely. I sent the office a card and a box of "say it with brownies". I sent my vet a seperate card and a gift voucher for a shop that specialises in his hobby to his house (he lives close and told me to go to his house twice to collect meds for Vinnie when things were bad). That's the most I've ever gifted a vet but he truly did go above in beyond (he always does) and we had him out at crazy hours during it all.

I would never have handed over cash though.

 

[Leandy]

Noo, don't tip the vet but no problem I'm sure with a gift (wine, flowers, whatever) as a sign of appreciation. Surely tipping is a bit demeaning? Really a rather outdated custom based on giving the "serving classes" a bit extra when they provide a personal service. A vet is a professional and I think it would be very awkward! I don't want to start an argument about whether some jobs are more valued/rewarded than othesr and whether that is right or fair but just to describe the connotations of tipping. I think is is something that needs to be encouraged to die out, not find new opportunities for. It is based on a lack of equality and status between the giver and the receiver.

 

[cobgoblin]

Tricky Woo hampers.

 

[Keith_Beef]

Starting salaries for newly-qualified vets are generally around £30,500 to £35,500.
With further training and experience, your salary can rise to approximately £40,000 to £70,000. Vets working in large animal practices tend to earn more than those working with smaller animals.
Experienced vets employed in the industry can earn up to around £92,500.

 

[Leandy]

Tricky Woo hampers.

Exactly!

 

[pansymouse]

I've never tipped mine but I have given him a bottle of crab apple vodka mainly because I harvested the crab apples from his property (with his permission). He owns the practice and also has another business so he doesn't need money tips.

 

[rara007]

Going against the grain I have got a couple of cash tips before- small animals out of hours. (2016 grad) Or a £20 to get the team a coffee. It’s always been 2am with no one to ask if we can accept it so I thank them and tell them it’ll go in the charity pot if that’s ok with them but I’ll make sure everyone does get a coffee and know they’ve been appreciated.

 

[rara007]

Think that’s a bit misleading- associate salaries for equine and farm is worse than small animals by quite a chunk.