Stress at Work

Spend $12 and save thousands

Stress at work is unavoidable. Workers have conflicts with their co-workers, customers, bureaucrats, timetables, work itself and at home. Stressed people need more time off work for sickness, lack focus and concentration, have more accidents, have worse relationships with their co-workers and customers, make mistakes and this adds to the work-load and stress of everyone else at work - the spiral of stress grows. And it's been estimated that 80% of our diseases and linked to stress and that stress costs NZ's businesses around $300,000,000 a year.

A recent study at Auckland University found that migraine sufferers who had a 45-minute massage of the upper body, once a week for six weeks, experienced their migraines going down from 5.5 to 3.5 a month. Larger corporations, from Nike to the Bay of Plenty Times, from Levi to Trust Power, from Commerce Nelson to the Department of Conservation, recognize that staff who receive a regular massage are happier, more productive and better to work with. Many companies are now paying the $10 per staff member, to provide neck and shoulder massages -- the investment is proving very worthwhile. In other businesses, the staff pay for their own massage and the businesses provide a room that the massage therapist can use, say, once a week. Whether the company or the staff members are paying, the 12-minute head and shoulder massage, in a private room with soft ambient music and beautiful scents, relaxes muscles, reduces mental tension and lets the stresses evaporate. People also feel pampered and cared for -- something most employees don't feel nowadays.

And the people who experience these regular massages at work?

Dear Steffi, can I say how much I enjoy and look forward to your fortnightly visits to the Bay Times. I find the time I spend with you is most beneficial and relaxing. You manage to relieve my aching muscles and give me a general feeling of well being. Helen Wayman

Working on a very busy counter can be highly stressful. This I did not fully realize until Stephanie arrived at the office offering 15-minute chair massage. It is very soothing and relaxing. To be able to go back to work feeling invigorated must be beneficial to employee, employer and customer. Sylvie Taylor

Over the last 6 months I have enjoyed the wonderful benefits of a fortnightly seated massage with Stephanie and apart from relaxing muscles and relieving stress, the fortnightly massage has made me much more aware of sitting correctly at my desk and computer and my posture in general.
To anyone who has not tried a massage I would recommend you try one soon. Jessie Cook

Sitting at a computer is far from healthy and Stephi's seated massage is very relaxing and stress-relieving. It also stimulates circulation and relieves any aching muscles which is very beneficial to you. Far beats having to go to the doctor! Paul Ritchie

Steffi's massage visits are the highlight of a busy working day. Her magic touch eases away the stress and makes the day go better. A regular massage at Steffi's clinic keeps my body and mind in tune. Jimmy Joe

I have been getting seated massages from Stephie for over 12 months now, and recommend her to all my friends and work colleagues.
I find the service she provides to be very professional and of the highest quality.
Regards   Wendy Knight

So, if you're wondering how to reduce work-place accidents, improve absenteeism and give your staff the feeling that you really do care about them, consider having a regular visit from a trained massage therapist and rub your staff up the right way!