Employee Perk
Looking for an affordable perk that both your employees and your
company bank account will appreciate? Try on-site massage. It can
reduce stress, help manage work-related pain from carpal tunnel
syndrome or neck cramps, and even enhance productivity.
A growing number of big corporations, small businesses and even
government agencies have found massage to be a low-cost investment
that produces big returns. The Touch Research Institute at the
University of Miami in Florida has documented the positive effects
of massage therapy with research that indicates a basic 15-minute
chair massage, provided twice weekly, results in decreased stress
and increased productivity.
Clients remain fully dressed and sit in a specially designed chair
while the massage therapist works on their neck, back and
shoulders, explains Marilyn Kier, a nationally certified massage
therapist and owner of Wellness at Work in Wheeling, Illinois.
Though pricing varies, the average hourly rate for workplace
massage is $60, and Kier says she averages three employees per
hour. Companies handle the fees differently: Some pay the entire
fee, others split the cost with employees, and others provide the
space and opportunity but ask employees to pay the full
amount.
To locate a certified massage therapist in your area, contact the
American Massage Therapy Association at (847) 864-0123 or visit its
Web site at http://www.amtamassage.com.
