If a company is full of unhappy employees, there is a distinct possibility that the business is not thriving as it should. But how is an employer supposed to placate employees without blowing the bank? In response to this prevalent problem, businesses are more frequently turning to some form of massage therapy provided during regular work hours. Employees in competitive work environments often suffer under the demands and burdens of their office’s rapid fire culture, and this stress often negatively affects both work performance and personal health. As shocking as it may seem, stress alone costs employers billions of dollars a year due to healthcare costs, as well as lost earnings. And since stress can cause significant damage to workplace productivity, and the workplace is inherently stressful, a smart employer can put two-and-two together and realize that massage therapy is more than a worthwhile investment.
Immediate Positive Results
Workplace massage therapy programs are convenient, primarily because they require an employee to be removed from work-related activities for a rather short duration of time, and they produce immediate and positive results. Massage therapy in the office is generally performed in a portable massage chair designed to allow each individual employee to adopt a comfortable position. This massage-specific chair also allows the trained massage therapist to easily tend to trouble spots often strained during work, including the back, neck, shoulders, arms, wrists, and hands. Workplace massage differs from spa-type massage therapy in that employees do not disrobe for treatment, and the treatment usually only lasts between 10 and 20 minutes. However, this seemingly limited amount of time has been found to effectively relieve many of the aches, pains, and stresses of the workday.
Productivity Improvement
Workplace massage therapy is a welcome benefit to company employees, and it wards off many of work’s little annoyances, as well as its more significant consequences. Chair massage therapy is a great way to reduce tension that can build up in the workplace. From a mental standpoint, chair massage aids in relaxation, improves mood, lowers tension and anxiety levels, and can even help combat depression. As a result of these troubles, employees are frequently absent from work, and are also less productive when present and working. But in just a few short massage therapy sessions, employees experience lower blood pressure and heart rate, improved energy, an increased attention span, better focus and concentration, heightened creativity, and a clearer mind.
Employee Well-Being Improvement
In point of fact, massage stimulates the release of endorphins to the brain and nervous system; these endorphins soothe and relax the employee’s nervous system, thereby making him or her more confident, happier, and alert. But if these problems are left unchecked and untreated, continuous, long term stress can also cause insomnia, chronic headaches, overeating, heart disease, and even stroke. And as relaxing as massage therapy may be, it actually fights off excessive fatigue, which could prove professionally detrimental to an employee. This increased relaxation can also decrease instances of insomnia, and he or she will undoubtedly sleep more easily and deeply over time.
Natural Pain Relief
Massage therapy in the workplace undoubtedly has many positive physical results as well, the most significant of these being pain relief. Chair massage can hasten the healing of strained muscles, reduce muscle pain, enhance the health of skin, soothe headaches and eye strains, promote flexibility, and improve posture. In fact, regular massage therapy can even release chronic muscle soreness and tension that may have been hampering the workers performance. It can also reduce the overall frequency of muscle strains and headaches help prevent the onset of repetitive strain injuries caused by actions such as typing and assembly line work, like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis. Much of this pain relief is again due to the release of endorphins during massage, which acts as the body’s natural painkillers.
Boost Immune System
Moreover, massage therapy can boost the immune system by improving circulation of blood through the circulatory system, as well as the improved function of the lymph system, both of which serve to hasten the elimination of toxins in the body. Obviously, better immune systems mean that more employees will be able to fight off colds and other physical ailments that are seemingly always “floating” around the office.
Intangible Benefits To Company
A workplace massage therapy program also serves as a good reflection on the company. While relatively inexpensive, workplace massage therapy improves the overall morale and loyalty of the workforce, since an employer’s vested interest in their employees’ health and well being gives these employees a feeling of being valued. Morale isn’t just good for employees individually, but rather, it is beneficial to the entire company, as companies that incorporate massage therapy incentives into their health packages are often able to attract and retain more quality employees, and they also experience less turnover overall. After all, the reality is that employees are more motivated to work, and also have more job satisfaction, when they feel appreciated. Healthy and happy employees are more productive, if only for the fact that they are less likely to call in sick due to illness and other stressors affecting their ability to perform.
Overall Happiness
Moreover, happier employees are more eager to put the extra effort into their work product, and in turn, may accomplish more in the same amount of time. And obviously, this heightened productivity equals bigger profits for the company. Workplace massage therapy calms the nerves of employees, enhances productivity, and lastly, preserves a healthy bottom line. Further, the effects of massage therapy in the workplace translate into greater long term physical, mental, and financial benefits for everyone involved. And ultimately, companies that offer massage benefits to their employees not only have happier employees, but also healthier employees who feel more appreciated, and in turn will focus more effort into their work.
See Original Post: Productivity Bits article by Jodi Harrison