Rubbed the right way.
Montreal, Gazette Monday January 13,1996.
Kathy Lehne President at Sun Coast Resources in Houston, decided her employees needed a break, because they've been working so hard. So she hired a mobile massage company to give employees 15 minutes of neck, back, arm and hand massage. Twelve employees were chosen at random for the relaxing treat and Lehne gave up her office for two hours for the event. Lehne, who has had many massages over the years, figures they are so much better than going outside to smoke a cigarette or eating an unhealthy snack. "I believe in doing a lot for employees because they are the company", she said.
"When employees are happy, they'll keep the customers happy," she added. Other employers are also hiring massage therapists to give rubdowns to employees. Some are offering massage to relieve stress from workplace restructuring; others are offering it as an extension of employee health care.
At Sun Coast Resources, the quickie massages proved so popular that Lehne is thinking about having the massage company make a visit about twice a mouth to the wholesale gasoline-and-diesel-fuel company.
"Workplace massage is catching on," said Luz Maya-Moore, owner of Rejuvenate, a massage-Therapy company in Houston. Companies are willing to pay for massage because it relieves stress, increases employee morale and decreases absenteeism.
Sterling Bank employees started getting massages after the chief executive officer told all the tellers that the next time payday fell on a Friday at the end of the month he'd hire a massage therapist, because it's such a long day.
"When other bank employees heard about the perk, they wanted in on the action, so the company brought massage therapists back," said Karen Green, vice-president and office manager. Green along with the CEO, got full-body massages while the other employees got chair massages.
"It's a great way to show appreciation, work out a few kinks and it's a fun thing," Green said.
Houston Lighting & Power Co. has offered free massages to employees at it's health fairs.
"It's a new wave of health and fitness that seems to be in style," said utility spokesperson Leticia Lowe. It's right in line with other employee benefits like dental and medical care that try to keep employees healthy, both physically and mentally.
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