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RELAX AND
RESTORE MASSAGE SERVICES |
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ON-SITE MASSAGE |
| The Ultimate in Relaxation & Stress Reduction |
On-Site Massage Will":
- Increase Productivity
- Reduce Stress Levels
- Reduce Days Lost to Sickness and Injury
- Increase Employee Loyalty
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| What is On Site Massage? |
| On-Site Massage (OSM) is the increasingly popular way of providing a
relaxing yet energizing break for employees right in the
workplace/office. No oils or lotions are used and the massage is done
through the clothes. Normally the work is done while the client rests
comfortably on a specially designed massage chair that is provided by
the professional massage therapist. Very little room is required for
the massage chair, so this type of work can be done in virtually any
office or workplace. The OSM averages about 20 minutes but can vary in
length to accommodate the office. |
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| What are The Benefits of OSM? |
| The benefits of OSM are both immediate and cumulative. Ina 1996 study
done by the Touch Research Institute, University of Miami School of
Medicine, a group of people representing average workers, was given a
series of 7 multi-digit numbers to add. They were then given a 15
minute chair massage and then given a second series of 7 multi-digit
numbers to add. The study was extended over: |
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Day 1 |
Day 10 |
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Pre |
Post |
Pre |
Post |
| Computation accuracy |
69.2 |
89.2 |
83.1 |
96.2 |
| Standard Deviation |
20.0 |
28.3 |
29.7 |
31.0 |
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| Computation Times |
250.0 |
234.0 |
232.5 |
210.0 |
| Standard Deviation |
85.1 |
72.3 |
75.9 |
64.0 |
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| As can be seen from the above chart, there was a marked improvement in
participant performance after each massage (20% and 13.1%
respectively) and there was a cumulative effect as well, in that the
pre-massage accuracy for Day 10 was 13.9% higher then the pre-massage
accuracy for Day 1. It should also be noted that as accuracy improved,
time decreased. In short, if an employer makes OSM available to
his/her employees, there will be a marked improvement in their
productivity. On the average this improvement works out to be about
15%. |
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| There are also a number of other
benefits realized by the employer: |
- Employees handle stress better, whether on the job or at home,
which means there is less conflict/anger to deal with, which makes
everyone's life easier.
- There are fewer days lost to sickness and injury because a relaxed
worker has a better functioning immune system and is more alert and
therefore less likely to get sick or injure themselves.
- There is greater employee loyalty to the company, which means fewer
employees leave their positions. In surveys conducted among both new
and long time employees, OSM was seen as a positive factor in drawing
and keeping employees.
- There is a reduction in compensation and medication claims (more
details later).
- There is a decreased need for replacement workers.
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| There are some ongoing benefits for the employees taking part in the
program: |
- Release of those tight painful knots.
- Increased sense of well being.
- More energy & decreased stress.
- Clearer thinking and greater productivity.
- Better able to cope with the frustrations of the workplace and at
home.
- Greater appreciation for the company and its many benefits.
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| It's Easy To Set Up And Run |
| ASSIGN A CONTACT PERSON: He or she will help the massage therapist set
the schedule, publicize the program, and sign people up. They then get
a free massage. PROVIDE A SPACE: A conference room, break room, or a quiet corner is
fine. After the day's sessions, the space can return to its normal
use.
ENCOURAGE EMPLOYEES TO USE IT. Make sure they know you support the
program. Use it yourself and encourage your managers to do the same. |
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| Which Companies Have OSM? |
| Both private companies and government agencies have OSM for their
employees. These include: Apple Computers, Merill Lynch, Pepsi Cola,
Heinz Soup Company, NBC-TV, IKEA (Canadian head office in Toronto,
Ont.), the U.S. State Department and the IRS. Companies, both big and
small, offer OSM to their employees because they have found that it
saves them money. |
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For over 5 years, the Baxter Corp. has been footing the twice-a-week
bill for its employee sessions with a massage therapist. Approximately
half of the company's 420 employees take advantage of this perk, The
annual bill is approximately $25,000. What has the company gained for
this expense? Besides making the employees feel good, they have
experienced a 25% drop in time off from work related injuries over a 4
year period. Put another way, between 1988 and 1990, the costs Baxter
bore for workers' compensation claims dropped by $200,000. "There has
been a definite return for our money," say Helen Ayers, Health
Services
Supervisor for the Alliston based pharmaceutical firm (Financial Times
of Canada, March 23-29, 1992).
"We're always looking for new ways of helping people deal with stress
and massage is one of the best ways," Shirley Wheatly, Manager of
Employee Services at Toronto City Hall.It would certainly give you
a competitive edge to have employees that were 15% more productive
then those of your competition. |
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CAN YOUR COMPANY AFFORD NOT TO HAVE OSM? |
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| How is OSM Payed For? |
There are several ways that OSM can be paid for:
- The company can offer it as a perk, just as Baxter Corp. did. This is
interpreted by the employees as a sign of a caring company.
- Secondly, since all those giving the massage are Registered Massage
Therapists, their work would be covered by employees' Extended Health
Care Plans (it is always wise to check your plan to see if a doctor's
prescription is necessary before having a massage). So the employees
can pay all or part of the costs through their benefits package.
- Thirdly, some companies use OSM as a means of rewarding employees for
reaching specific objectives or a birthday or work anniversary
present.
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| What Is the Fee Schedule For OSM? |
| The fee schedule is fairly standardized throughout the profession.
Each treatment lasts approximately 20 minuets and costs $20.00 (one
dollar/minute). There is also a set-up fee, which varies according to
the distance that the therapist has to travel to do the work. Within
the cities of Kitchener/Waterloo, the set-up fee is only $8.00.
Outside of the Twin Cities, but within the Region of Waterloo, the
set-up fee increases to $15.00. Beyond the Region of Waterloo the
set-up fee would have to be negotiated. |
| The company offering OSM to its employees has to guarantee the
therapist at least 3 hours of work (i.e. 9 clients) which is looked
upon as 1 block. If a company within the cities of Kitchener/Waterloo
is providing the therapist with 2 blocks/day for 2 or more successive
days, then the set-up fee is waived altogether. |
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| Contact Information |
For more information or to arrange for a free OSM please contact Mr.
Brian Sklar, RMT, BTh, BES, BEd
Relax & Restore Massage Services
27 Erb Street East.
Waterloo, Ontario, N2J 1L5
Phone: (519) 884-9174 |
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