Why Have an Office Massage?
How does office massage work?
Office Massages: Two things that seemly don’t work together? Maybe when you think of office massage, you imagine wearing white robes and being covered in massage oils at your desk? Someone trying to fix a printer jam with relaxing music on in the background? Of course, a spa massage and a corporate massage are completely different events!
A typical office massage is undertaken fully clothed on a seated massage chair, and the only oil we use is diffused around the room! The massage targets those areas of the body that needs tension to be released the most, and works on the repetitive stress injury (RSI) points of the head, neck, shoulders, arms and hands. The head specifically has many pressure points, so an office-based massage releases tension build up and can reduce tension headaches caused by sitting at a desk for long periods.
What are the employee benefits of having a regular office massage?
Massage activates endorphins which make us feel well and happy. Office massages improve posture and reduce tension headaches. They also reduce stress, which goes towards preventing mental health issues and lowering blood pressure. According to Mental Health org, every 1 in 6.8 people experience mental health problems in the workplace.
Office massage promotes energy and gives you a boost by getting the blood circulating while leaving you feeling relaxed and refreshed. Regular office massages can reduce stress at work.
In 2021 50% of all work-related absence was due to stress”
What are the employer benefits of having office massages?
On average, it costs 6-9 months’ salary to train a new employee. Office-based massage can be an office perk that assists with increasing staff morale, which ultimately results in more retained staff and reduced rates of staff attrition. Happy staff are more likely to stay and remain loyal over the longer term.
In addition, massage has been proven to reduces stress, illness, and ultimately, staff sick days. This helps your team feel happier and more balanced.
Many progressive companies are now implementing workplace massages or well-being programs. They understand the link between the well-being of the staff and the bottom line.
It is now commonplace in London to have regular office massages, with some notable examples being Google, Harvard Business School, NHS, Schools and banks such as Barclays, Amex and Santander and they are just the ones I know about or have worked with.
A regular massage is a low-cost option, and sessions can be booked as either weekly or monthly. Office massages are typically 15 minutes to 1 hour per session, depending on the size of the team and budget.
An investment in office massage is ultimately an investment in your company’s productivity.
“Office massage is not just nice to have. It’s an essential component of any progressive company. Replacing a salaried employee costs 6 to 9 months’ salary, so keeping your team happy is an investment.”
-Society for Human Resource Management
So what’s the cost for increased office happiness? If you have a small team (up to 15), the cost could be as little as £150 for a few hours. Office massages for larger teams (up to 30) starts from £360 per month. If it keeps just one extra person from jumping ship, then having massages one day a week pays for itself.