Providing on-site massage therapy benefits both the employer and employees, says Mark Fox, chair and CEO of Novator Systems, a Toronto-based e-commerce services and software company. Employees at Novator are treated to a 20-minute chair massage each month — a perk they’ve been receiving since 1998.
Novator is not the first to recognize the benefits of massage therapy in the workplace. In fact, it joins a growing list of companies across North America concerned about the toll stress is taking on employees.
Many working Canadians are now faced with longer work hours, more responsibilities and little time for vacations. They’re trying to balance work and home and most find themselves running on empty. To try and deal with this problem, numerous organizations have implemented wellness program initiatives, and workplace massage is often part of a company’s wellness program.
Massage styles
The most common type of workplace massage is a seated or chair massage in which the therapist brings an adjustable, ergonomically designed chair into the workplace. During the massage, no clothing is removed and oils are rarely used. The therapist works on the head, neck, back, shoulders, arms and hands. A variety of techniques, including Swedish massage, are used. The massages last anywhere from five to 30 minutes (15 to 20 minutes is the norm).
Table massage can also be offered in the workplace. A separate room is required and massages are usually a half-hour in length. Partial or full undressing is required and therapists use oils and lotions.
Registered massage therapists (RMTs) provide most workplace massages. In Ontario, RMTs must complete 2,200 hours of training and are licenced under the Regulated Health Professions Act. RMTs receive extensive training in anatomy, physiology and pathology.
Massage practitioners also offer workplace massage, but are not eligible for any licencing. Insurance coverage for massage is available for registered massage therapy only.
Employee benefits
Mental and physical stress interferes with comfort, stamina and the ability to concentrate. Having a regular workplace massage is said to increase productivity, decrease absenteeism, improve morale, lower benefits costs and retain employees.
A regular massage program can increase an individual’s energy and concentration, prevent injuries such as repetitive strain, and decrease the frequency and severity of stress-related problems, such as headaches, high blood pressure and neck and back aches. It also offers a healthy alternative to a coffee break.
Employer benefits
By investing in a workplace wellness program such as massage, an employer is sending a clear message to employees. It says, “We care about your mental and physical health. In essence, we care about you.” And employers can expect a healthier and happier workforce, which boils down to bottom-line results.
Massage facts
Over the past 10 years, various research studies have confirmed what therapists and recipients of massage believed all along…massage works. One study of 50 healthy adults demonstrated that massage therapy leads to improved concentration and mood, as well as lower anxiety and depression. Another study looked at the effectiveness of 15-minute chair massages in reducing stress in 52 employees — there was significant reduction in participants’ blood pressure levels after receiving massages.
A few years ago, the International Journal of Neuroscience conducted an experiment to examine if massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances alertness. A number of adults were asked to relax in a massage chair for 15 minutes, two times per week for five weeks and were also asked to perform math problems. At the end of the test, this group showed an enhanced alertness, increased speed and accuracy and lower anxiety levels.
In a demanding and hectic working world, massage therapy offers a healthy break, giving employees a “time-out” to relax and refresh, returning to work re-energized.
Susan Bowman and John Krongold are the owners of Hands-On-Health Inc., an organization specializing in on-site massage therapy. For more information call (416) 256-0766 or [email protected].
Novator is not the first to recognize the benefits of massage therapy in the workplace. In fact, it joins a growing list of companies across North America concerned about the toll stress is taking on employees.
Many working Canadians are now faced with longer work hours, more responsibilities and little time for vacations. They’re trying to balance work and home and most find themselves running on empty. To try and deal with this problem, numerous organizations have implemented wellness program initiatives, and workplace massage is often part of a company’s wellness program.
Massage styles
The most common type of workplace massage is a seated or chair massage in which the therapist brings an adjustable, ergonomically designed chair into the workplace. During the massage, no clothing is removed and oils are rarely used. The therapist works on the head, neck, back, shoulders, arms and hands. A variety of techniques, including Swedish massage, are used. The massages last anywhere from five to 30 minutes (15 to 20 minutes is the norm).
Table massage can also be offered in the workplace. A separate room is required and massages are usually a half-hour in length. Partial or full undressing is required and therapists use oils and lotions.
Registered massage therapists (RMTs) provide most workplace massages. In Ontario, RMTs must complete 2,200 hours of training and are licenced under the Regulated Health Professions Act. RMTs receive extensive training in anatomy, physiology and pathology.
Massage practitioners also offer workplace massage, but are not eligible for any licencing. Insurance coverage for massage is available for registered massage therapy only.
Employee benefits
Mental and physical stress interferes with comfort, stamina and the ability to concentrate. Having a regular workplace massage is said to increase productivity, decrease absenteeism, improve morale, lower benefits costs and retain employees.
A regular massage program can increase an individual’s energy and concentration, prevent injuries such as repetitive strain, and decrease the frequency and severity of stress-related problems, such as headaches, high blood pressure and neck and back aches. It also offers a healthy alternative to a coffee break.
Employer benefits
By investing in a workplace wellness program such as massage, an employer is sending a clear message to employees. It says, “We care about your mental and physical health. In essence, we care about you.” And employers can expect a healthier and happier workforce, which boils down to bottom-line results.
Massage facts
Over the past 10 years, various research studies have confirmed what therapists and recipients of massage believed all along…massage works. One study of 50 healthy adults demonstrated that massage therapy leads to improved concentration and mood, as well as lower anxiety and depression. Another study looked at the effectiveness of 15-minute chair massages in reducing stress in 52 employees — there was significant reduction in participants’ blood pressure levels after receiving massages.
A few years ago, the International Journal of Neuroscience conducted an experiment to examine if massage therapy reduces anxiety and enhances alertness. A number of adults were asked to relax in a massage chair for 15 minutes, two times per week for five weeks and were also asked to perform math problems. At the end of the test, this group showed an enhanced alertness, increased speed and accuracy and lower anxiety levels.
In a demanding and hectic working world, massage therapy offers a healthy break, giving employees a “time-out” to relax and refresh, returning to work re-energized.
Susan Bowman and John Krongold are the owners of Hands-On-Health Inc., an organization specializing in on-site massage therapy. For more information call (416) 256-0766 or [email protected].
