Why Chair Massage?
As a management and health promotion program
The Problem: Stress can have a significant impact on the bottom line. And organizations are increasingly recognizing that fact. Research on the impact of stress is relatively easy to access. For example, a survey done by Canada Health Monitor found that Canadians were more than three times as likely to complain of health problems arising from stress in the workplace than from work-related illness or injury. More than half of the survey respondents cite the pace of work as the most common workplace health problem.
We know that stress can impact employees in a very dramatic way. They become vulnerable to a variety of physical and emotional problems. According to Dr. Herbert Benson of the Harvard Medical School, "between 60 and 90 percent of complaints brought to a doctor's office are due to stress." Just three stress related disorders: chronic pain, headaches, and hypertension account for more than half of lost wages due to absenteeism -- over $30 billion a year in the USA.
The Solution: Massage can stop stress dead in its tracks. Research has shown that the effects of massage on stress are immediate and cumulative. Less stress means greater productivity, decreased absenteeism, less sick days and a happier workforce - all factors that have an impact on the bottom line.
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Increasing
The Problem: For the stress survivors who manage to get to work everyday, don't expect them to be working optimally. The National Commission on Productivity (USA) has found that out of every ten of your employees only two are working at their full potential. Stress changes brain wave patterns and interferes with clear focused thinking. Employees can't concentrate on their work when they are preoccupied with an aching back, tense shoulders, or a headache.
The Solution: Helping employees manage their stress can have a near miraculous effect on productivity. Researchers at the Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami did two 15-minute massages a week for five weeks. Not only did workers have lowered anxiety levels, but they completed math tests in half the time and with 50 percent fewer errors! Impressive!
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During heavy work periods or when under tight
The Problem: Whether it's seasonal busy times or deadlines for important projects, there are always periods of time when employees are pushed to the limit. It is vital to have employees working at their very best during these particularly crucial times. Companies need maximum results for every effort expended.
The Solution: According to Elizabeth Thorsen, an expert in stress at the University of Toronto, "Techniques such as massage can help break the pattern of stress, energize the person and provide immeasurable relief." And it can do all that in less time than it takes to have a coffee.
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For events
The Problem: Every company has numerous special events throughout the year and they need to come up with creative ways to make them special. Some of these events may include:
Conventions
Social events
Golf tournaments
Health fairs
Awards events
Fundraising
Customer appreciation days
Wellness week
And more
The Solution: Chair massage is a unique service that can easily turn any of these events into an unforgettable experience.
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you's
The Problem: Finding unique and cost-effective ways to thank the people that contribute to a company's success. These could include employees, customers, or vendors.
The Solution: Massage is one of the most unique ways to express your thanks to employees, customers, vendors, and colleagues. Massage is far more memorable than flowers or a box of chocolates and can be less expensive.
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Premium and tool
The Problem: Rewarded behavior gets repeated. What premium or incentive tool can we use as a motivational tool to motivate our customers to buy and our sales people to sell?
The Solution: Chair massage, of course. What better way to reward the best performers and to keep everyone working at their highest possible level. It also is a powerful premium to motivate customers to buy.
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As a tool
The Problem: Attracting attention to our business in a highly competitive market.
The Solution: Chair massage is an excellent way to attract attention to a company and set it apart from the crowd. Companies can use seated massage to pull prospects and existing customers into your tradeshow booth. They can use it for special promotional events like store openings or product launches. They can make the service available to customers in their retail locations to create a unique, memorable shopping experience. For example, three grocery chains in the South West United States, including the innovative Whole Foods Market, have seated massage available for shoppers in every one of their outlets.
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To improve employee
The Problem: If a valued employee leaves a company it can cost you thousands of dollars in recruiting and training expenses to replace that person. It's difficult to find employees with the right skills for the job at hand. When a company finds that right person and invests in training them, they don't want to see them leave. With intense competition for skilled workers, a good salary instills as much loyalty as the next job offer. Employees expect a supportive environment and perks that make it hard to leave.
The Solution: Having massage readily available is a perk that fosters a sense of caring and makes it hard for an employee to leave. In the words of one employee, "It's (seated massage) one of the sweeter things a lot of companies don't offer, so it builds up a certain loyalty. I think the company mindset is that the healthier the employees are, the less time off they'll take and the happier they'll be. From an employee perspective, it's a really nice thing to take advantage of."
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Decrease
The Problem: Most employees who miss work do so because they are having difficulties dealing with the day-to-day pressures of the job or because stress has taken its toll on their health. As already mentioned, just three stress related problems -- back pain, headaches, and hypertension -- account for half of all absences. The estimated cost of absenteeism to American employers: over $30 billion.
The Solution: Not only will seated massage help prevent these workplace problems which cause people to miss work, but employees will look forward to coming into work when they know that a much needed treat awaits them. We can't count the number of times employees have said, "I wasn't going to come into work today, but I knew you were going to be here."
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During transitional periods
The Problem: In a survey of over 500 companies in 21 industry groups, approximately eight out of 10 had downsized in the previous five years. Changing times. Changing organizations. For all employees, the uncertainty created by layoffs, the trend toward contract work, and a more demanding work environment contributes in a big way to high stress levels. For those that remain after restructuring or cutbacks, having to do more with less is taking its toll. As workloads increase with both cutbacks and layoffs, employees show signs of buckling under the pressure.
The Solution: Chair massage can help employees deal with the stress associated with change. When it comes to downsizing, the impact on the "survivors" can be devastating. They feel anxious about their future, guilty that they are staying when their colleagues have been given the pink slip, and incredible pressure as they take on the workload of the people that have left. Companies spend a lot of money in downsizing to ensure future profits. There's no reason why they can't spend a little more to maximize those profits.
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Improving employee
The Problem: You want your staff to be ambassadors, not assassins. Staff will give their best if they feel that their efforts are recognized and if they feel supported in doing their work. Part of that means recognizing the physical and mental stress they have to cope with in the organization. In the words of Bill Marriott Jr., Chairman of Marriott Hotels, "At Marriott, we know that if we treat our employees correctly, they'll treat the customers right. And if customers are treated right, they'll come back."
The Solution: Give employees the support they need to get through those stressful days with massage. "The convenience of knowing it is effective for my migraines and even for every day stress is the biggest benefit of having massage on-site," said one employee. "It makes me feel supported. I feel the company is willing to help employees deal with stress and they recognize the job is stressful."
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For meeting and
The Problem: Intense management meetings, training programs, or planning sessions can be exhausting. You can't concentrate and perform well if you are fatigued. That's why you need to give participants a break. Conventions can be equally exhausting, both for the participants and the exhibitors at the trade show booths.
The Solution: Massage can help relieve stiffness from sitting all day and get rid of those physical and mental knots so that you feel rejuvenated and clear headed. At conventions, use massage in your booth to draw attention to your company or as a powerful thank you to your valued customers. If you're organizing a show, have seated massage available to attendees to make your event memorable and so that they can recharge to get back on the floor and do business. Or have it available as an inexpensive and much appreciated gift for the exhibitors who have a grueling day on their feet.
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