Statistics regarding corporate massage research and results suggest that successful health and wellbeing programs provide an excellent return on investment. One research article in a 1992 edition of the Financial Times claims a company based in Ontario, Canada, reported a 25 percent decrease in time off for work-related injuries, and a $200,000 decrease in compensation claims after it implemented a massage therapy program.

Pretty impressive Canadian statistics. However this article explores more current and relevant Australian based corporate massage research and statistics. Most statistics are sourced from Australian research.

onsite workplace massage research and results Australian Corporate Massage Research

1. Corporate Massage Programs Deliver More Than The Expected Physical and Psychological Outcomes.

The most recent corporate massage research paper I could find is from 2013. A thesis completed for Victoria University entitled ‘Improving workplace productivity and corporate culture : perceptions and experiences of the effects of corporate massage.’

The findings revealed that overwhelmingly, all the participants in the study believe that workplace massage provides positive outcomes for both the organisation and those taking advantage of the program. Managers perceived that massage programs provided benefits such as positive influences on corporate culture and increased productivity. Whilst employees explained how massage relaxed and refreshed them, allowing them to focus better and concentrate at work.1

2. On Average, Corporate Wellness Programs Show:

-Sick leave absenteeism decreased by 25.3%
-Workers compensation costs decreased by 40.7%
-Disability management costs decreased by 24.2%
-Save $5.81 for every $1 invested in employee health and wellbeing’.

‘An increasing number of Australian Organisations are adopting workplace health programs and these organisations are reaping the benefits of such programs. These benefits include greater job satisfaction, reduced staff related costs, improved employee engagement and lessened absenteeism. Other important benefits also include higher productivity and, ultimately higher profits.’2

3. ‘Good Work is Good for You’. Strong Evidence Shows that Good Employee Health and Wellbeing Boosts Organisational Health.

There are numerous reasons why investing in programs to enhance worker health and wellbeing makes good business sense. Put simply: healthy workers = healthy organisations = healthy business performance.

Employers who implement health and wellbeing programs do so because they want to:

>Improve work performance and productivity
>Reduce costs associated with absenteeism, presenteeism, disability and workers’ compensation
>Improve the culture of the organisation and retain existing employees
>Improve the organisation’s image, attract talented employees and also fulfilling corporate social responsibility obligations.’ 3

4. Research On the Relationship Between Health and Productivity Finds Healthy Workers Are More Productive At Work Than Unhealthy Workers.

Healthy workers rate their work performance as much higher than unhealthy workers and have far fewer short-term absences than unhealthy workers. When an Australian study considered the combined effects of self-rated work performance and absenteeism data they found that the healthiest employees are almost three times more effective than the least healthy. The healthiest employees work approximately 143 effective hours per month compared to 49 effective hours per month by the least healthy. 4.

5.  Health And Wellbeing Programs Make Staff Feel Valued and Positively Impact on Workplace Culture.

Health and wellbeing programs help attract quality employees who value personal health and wellbeing, The programs also help retain existing staff members. implementing a wellbeing programs has the potential to improve workplace culture as well as workplace health by developing a closer congruence between employer and employee values—increasing the satisfaction level of employees. 5.

6. Health and Wellbeing Programs are Associated With Increased Employee Engagement, Creativity and Innovation.

Global research has found that when employee health and wellness is managed well the percentage of engaged employees increases from 7% to 55%. This research also found self-reported creativity and innovation increases from 20% to 72%. 6.

7. Business Performance Fast Facts.

  • For every dollar invested in workplace health and wellbeing programs, there is a return on investment of between three and six dollars.
  • Reduced performance costs employers two to seven times more than absenteeism.3
  • In 2005-2006, the cost of work-related injury and illness in Australia was estimated at $57.5 billion (5.9% GDP), of which employers bore $10.2 billion.
  • The greater the number of health risks per employee, the greater the negative impact on their productivity.
  • Consequently, by implementing a health and wellbeing program can reduce employee risk factors by up to 56% 7.

8. The Costs of Ill Health to Business Include Staff Turnover, Absenteeism, and Presenteeism.

Chronic diseases; which include arthritis, musculoskeletal disease, anxiety, cardiovascular disease & hypertension, is considered to be largely preventable. However it is identified as the prime cause of lost work time in the working-age population. 8

Another major cause of absenteeism is stress, which can cause migraines, neck pain, insomnia and depression. Furthermore, occupational stress may translate into everything from high staff turnover to conflict. 9.

Healthy employees are nearly three times more productive than unhealthy employees. Unhealthy employees take up to nine times more sick leave than their healthy colleagues and poor employee health and absenteeism is costing Australian business $7 billion annually or approximately $1000 for each employed person. 10

Presenteeism is defined as the productivity and engagement in work that is lost when employees come to work. However as a consequence of illness or because they aren’t engaged  (e.g. surfing the net) are not productive. Recent research also suggests the cost of presenteeism to the employer is between three and four times that of absenteeism.’

Furthermore, In 2009/10, the total cost of presenteeism to the Australian economy was estimated to be $34.1 billion

And, on average, 6.5 work days of productivity are lost per employee annually because of presenteeism.

9. Health and Wellbeing Programs Make Organisations Look and Feel Good.

One of the main reasons employers implement health initiatives is because it is ‘the right thing to do’. If management expresses concern for workers and demonstrates a willingness to invest in them, as a result, the relationship between employer and employee likely improves. Furthermore, by demonstrating a sense of corporate social responsibility this can also improve the organisation’s image with the public, and can help an organisation become an “employer of choice”. 12

Investing in employee health and well being is another win-win situation. In addition to employees experiencing enhanced health and wellbeing, companies also see improved productivity from their employees. 13

Numerous studies conducted have also proven time and again that massage can help relieve the emotional, mental and physical aches and pains that everyday living brings.” 14

Statistics also show that by incorporating regular stress management workplace massages as part of a health and wellbeing program has a long term goal of developing and maintaining happy, pain free employees. As well as being  more motivated, productive and focused, they are also absent less often. To book one of our trial session days for you and the team, call 1800 333807 or contact us.

References.

1. Improving workplace productivity and corporate culture : perceptions and experiences of the effects of workplace massage. D.Lane. Victoria University 2013 
2. Best Practise Guidelines. Workplace health in Australia, 2011 HAPIA, The Health and Productivity institute of Australia.
3. Australian Government Comcare.  Benefits to business: The evidence for investing in worker health and wellbeing. 
4. Medibank Private Report, Nov 2005, The health of Australia’s workforce.
5. Crowther, I, Thwaites, M and Zhou, J 2004, Measuring the benefits of corporate health & wellbeing initiatives, 25 July 2011.

6. Right Management 2009, Wellness and Productivity Management: A New Approach to Increasing Performance, 15 July 2011. http://www.rightmanagement.com.au/assets/x/50990
7. Why invest in health and wellbeing? Worksafe Tasmania 2011
8. World Economic Forum 2008, Working Towards Wellness:The Business Rationale, 1 July 2011.
9. Sick at work, Medibank Private Report 2007
10. The health of Australia’s workforce’ Medibank Private report. 2005
12. Wesley Corporate Health 2006, The Future @ Work Health Report: Employees and their Workplace, Wesley Corporate Health Pty Limited.
13. Sick at work, Medibank Private Report 2007