I recently watched a special report on ABC News on Corporate Wellness Programs. The report discussed how more and more companies are starting to make things like yoga classes, stress reduction workshops, and massage therapy accessible to their employees. Some companies are able to offer these services for free, while others pay for most of the cost and ask employees to chip in a small amount.
Watching this special report made me very happy! It is so great to see Corporate Wellness Programs, especially Corporate Massage, becoming more commonplace. I keep seeing companies being championed for their wonderful efforts to become green and more environmentally responsible. While I certainly think becoming as green as possible is extremely crucial, I think it is just as important to see companies praised for making the health of their employees a top priority.
Unfortunately, not enough research has been made into the concrete benefits of Corporate Massage. Most benefits are cited from a 1992 article from the Financial Times which explains how a company based in Ontario, Canada reported a 25% decrease in time off for work-related injuries and a $200,000 decrease in compensation claims after it started offering massage therapy to employees (Massage Therapy Journal, Summer 2009).
Ask an employee who receives regular onsite massage or a boss who offers massage to her employees about the benefits and surely they will have a long list. Companies have found that massage is a great way to attract and keep employees while also increasing productivity since people return to work refreshed and more motivated. Employees look forward to the massage for its ability to help them de-stress and unwind. Some employees also find the massage to be energizing. When that 3 o’clock hour rolls around and you might start to feel a bit lethargic, receiving a massage is great to help you recharge and rejuvenate for the last couple hours of the workday.
If you would like more information on Corporate Massage or think your company might be interested in implementing a program, I would be happy to provide you with additional information!