Add a refreshing touch to benefit programs - massage breaks for employees

HR Magazine, Oct, 1998 by Nancy Hatch Woodward

This type of liability issue and the connotations associated with massage lead some companies to fear that their employees will not be interested in using the benefit. "We have found that usually between 40 percent and 60 percent of the employees in any given workplace will jump at the chance to get a massage," says Watson, "but there are always those who will shy away from it."

The group that tends to be the "shyest" are the executives. "We've had a few executives make appointments - but not too many," Orlando says. "I think it's mostly a time issue." Wilkinson noticed the same thing with executives at her company. But she then added that they tend not to use many of the services and programs because they are either out of town or too busy when they return to the office.

Bucaccio, on the other hand, has been pleasantly surprised by the number of people in upper management at her company who come for a massage. "It really appeals to a broad range of employees of all ages and levels," she says.

Smith, too, has been pleased that several doctors have stopped by when they saw a massage chair in one area of the hospital. "We have some doctors who see it in a unit and take advantage of it," she says. "We've even gone into the doctor's lounge and offered head and neck massages there. We've also used massages in our family practice and residency program. I've had wonderful feedback from the doctors who have tried it."

MASSAGE TOUCHES THE BOTTOM LINE

The justification for any employee benefit tends to be, is it worth it? The answer, at least from these four companies, appears to be yes. Employees at StorageTek, Cigna and Intuit all pay for their own massages. Both StorageTek and Cigna have been able to negotiate discounted rates because of the volume they are offering the masseuse. But perhaps the biggest plus for many employees is that, at all three companies, massages are used as a reward for employees who have gone the extra mile.

"Our managers offer gift certificates to some employees as a reward for working on a project or working late to get some project finished," says Orlando. "It's a nice way to tell them they are appreciated."

At Memorial, where the hospital pays on-staff massage therapists, Smith says, "I don't have any studies or stats on the bottom line for the hospital, but I do believe it is cost-effective and very inexpensive in relation to other things that are supported at our hospital. And, quite honestly, it makes it all worthwhile when you see the faces of the employees who have been so tense. They take a 10-minute time-out, then they start to calm down and get in a better mood. When they go back to work and are dealing with patients and patients' families, they are more pleasant and they do a better job. That's the kind of bottom line we are interested in."

A QUICK CHECKLIST

Advantages of Offering Workplace Massage

* Increases productivity.

* Boosts morale.

* Reduces direct and indirect health maintenance costs.

* Reduces workers' compensation and disability insurance payments.