Give your staff regular massages, bosses urged

Date: 8 January 2008
Source: NZPA Media Release

New Zealand's national organisation for massage therapists says more workplaces should fund massages for their staff.

Massage New Zealand president Christene Loweth said today it was a travesty the Australian government was planning to make Australian public servants pay for their own massages.

Australia Post had spent $55,000 on rub downs, the Australian Bureau of Statistics spent $10,120 and the Treasury $17,000 as part of senior staff perks.

The massages ran up a $200,000 bill and new Prime Minister Kevin Rudd is expected to scrap the massage fund as part of a plan to save taxpayers billions of dollars.

Ms Loweth said if they kept the massages for the staff they would be looking after their well being, which would have set a good example to other employers to follow suit.

"Maybe if their sickness goes up and the time off for OOS, etc increases then maybe they will consider the cost worthwhile.

"I feel it is sad that they are taking such a small-minded approach, and not looking at the bigger picture."

The move could discourage other business from offering massages, she said.

"I think it could have a subtle flow on effect where people sort of think `oh well the government's pulling out'," Ms Loweth said.

"I hope that they would have their staff more in mind then to follow that suit."

In New Zealand a large percentage of companies offered massages to their staff, including the National Bank.

She believed even the Government had at times had a massage therapist visit a workplace, Ms Loweth said. "I wish that more companies would actually offer staff the facility, because I think it has a really beneficial effect long-term for people.

"It reduces stress levels, it reduces absenteeism, it and helps prevent OOS and things like that."

Overseas studies had shown the benefits of massage for workplaces, including reducing absenteeism and illness.

"It's not just – `oh I want to do this to increase my business' – it has been statistically proved. . . Ms Loweth said businesses would see benefits with staff returning to their work stations feeling relaxed. They would put in more time and effort when they knew their companies were looking after them.

The usual practice for a therapist visiting a workplace was to offer staff 10-15 minute neck and shoulder massages, which relieved stress and tension, she said.

"The staff actually get a physical break from the screens and it's a whole relaxation process."

At Boeing and Reebok, headaches, back strain, and fatigue had all fallen since the companies started bringing in massage therapists, Ms Loweth said.

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