Researching: As a business owner would you pay for monthly massages for your staff? If NO, I'd like to know the reasons behind your answer. Thank you!
I currently work with a bakery where the owner pays for his staff to receive 1 massage per month. I think it’s a great idea and I’d like to see how many other business owners would consider doing this and if not, I’m curious as to your reasons why.
The benefits of monthly massage for staff include: increased productivity, decreased stress, decrease in sick days, a boost in morale and helping build a circle of safety and a positive work atmosphere.
1 massage 1 x a month per employee/staff.
And if that’s too much would you consider doing it as an incentive and offer a massage a month to the employee/staff that goes above and beyond.
The benefits of monthly massage for staff include: increased productivity, decreased stress, decrease in sick days, a boost in morale and helping build a circle of safety and a positive work atmosphere.
1 massage 1 x a month per employee/staff.
And if that’s too much would you consider doing it as an incentive and offer a massage a month to the employee/staff that goes above and beyond.
Read More
140 Comments
9.5k Views
Answers (1-10)
Absolutely a great idea. Although not everyone enjoys a massage or even likes someone touching them. So, you would need to take into account what do those employees get if anything instead. As a not-for-profit CEO I used to bring in chair massage folks to work with my staff at the end of winter-and/or when work was hurried and stressful. Some staff really loved it-it was voluntary; some opted out.
I also implemented as part of an incentive program, a holiday shopping day during the winter holiday season and a spring fling day (these were bonus days off agreed to in advance by department supervisors). There are many low cost ways to build incentive programs that show your employees you care and that you value them.
Different generations have different views on valuable incentives. Understanding your workforce and then developing an incentive program, (that includes items such as massage, mani/pedi, dry-cleaning services, car washes, etc) to cater to the workforce is going to be the most successful. If your workforce enjoys coffee and there is Starbucks a block away, it might go far to offer a $10.00 gift card monthly, either as a benefit or as a productivity incentive. Setting up a dry-cleaning service with on-site pick up and drop off options, and then subsidizing the cost or providing a dry-cleaning allowance might be more suitable to some generations. Identify options and then survey your employees to see what is valuable to them. Then decide what is reasonable to implement. It doesn't make senses to offer massages if your employees are not interested in massages.
That is a great idea to show appreciation for you staff.
It sounds like a great idea and the benefits are inarguable. The one thing that should be considered is that the massage benefit is considered a taxable benefit to the employee and the total yearly value of the massages would have to be added to the employee's W-2. The IRS says that 'any reward, incentive, or other benefit that is not medical care must be included in the employee's income unless it is an excludable fringe benefit under IRC Section 132.' ( In my opinion, it doesn't look excludable.)
So at that point you'd have to find out if the employees would rather have the benefit or a cash raise because they have to pay taxes on both.
Without a doubt, I would for sure. The staff works very hard and I want them to feel special and to know how important they are to me and my business. It's a win-win situation every time.
I don't think that buying massages for an employee is a good incentive, a good incentive would be a gift card for the best employee of the month or a dinner for that employee. Some employee might not like massages or don't have time to do it. And about giving massages to our whole staff that would be to much cost for us.
Probably above and beyond staff!
Being self employed and no employees I would not find a need for the service.
I would ask each employee as to what makes them feel good or motivates them. Maybe giving choices of local business that you trade with, so maybe $xxx dollars could be spent at a restaurant, spa, hair salon, grocery store, classes, bakery etc and let them choose what they would like that would make them feel appreciated. not everyone LOVES to be touched or feels rewarded by getting the same "benefit."
I think it sounds like a productive idea; there are some pitfalls however. If it turns into a perk,you own it, and it will have consequences if you ever stop. If it is incentive-based, it may prove to be a sticking point with some employees pitting one against the other.
If this can be introduced as a perk whereby it is offered to relieve stress and increase productivity as well as the other benefits you mention; it may be stimulative and viewed with enthusiasm. Would one staff member give the massage to another staff member? OR will only licensed professionals give the massages? Will the timing of the massages be structured and not random? Will the massages always be same-sex massages; or is this not a valid consideration?
Overall the strategy seems to have more benefits than not and could turn into a welcomed feature of employment at your company.