Reflexology in the Workplace

Whatever the size of your business, it makes sense to look after your biggest asset, your employees. A fit and healthy workforce is key to an organisations performance and each year millions of working days are lost to stress-related illnesses.

Work related stress is the largest occupational health problem in the UK today. According to the Office for National Statistics, the number of sick days claimed by employees stood at some 27.3 million in 2014/15, with stress accounting for 35% of all work-related ill health cases (Mintel “Complementary and Alternative Medicine UK December 2015)

Excessive stress, without the opportunity to recover, can cause physiological and psychological problems such as tension, fatigue, headaches, digestive problems, irritability and lowered immune system to name a few. Specifically, in the workplace, the effects could result in:

Low moral and apathy

Lethargy and irritability

Reduced physical performance and poor concentration

Reduced creativity and productivity

Lowered immune system leading to the development of other physical health problems and consequently increased absenteeism

How can reflexology help your company?

Reflexology is a non-invasive therapy, does not require the use of drugs or chemicals and has no side effects. Its holistic approach treats the person as a whole and by focusing on prevention rather than cure, it can help maintain good health in the long term and may be one of the ways to mitigate the effects of persistent stress on our health and wellbeing.

As part of your ‘Health and Wellbeing Strategy’, each company can choose its own level of involvement. Treatments can be paid in full by each employee, in full by the employer or the employer can subsidise the employee, so costs are shared. Treatments are carried out in-house, in a small quiet room.  I will provide the necessary equipment, and will be tailored depending on the time-scale available.

The frequency of visits will be agreed with the company but ideally should be weekly or fortnightly and the company should ensure sessions are promoted internally. Referrals and bookings can be made direct through the company or on an individual basis.

Reflexology treatments also provide an ideal situation to raise various health issues and thus enabling people to make healthier lifestyle choices, providing the perfect opportunity to positively impact on your employees health. By removing or reducing some of the financial and time barriers to accessing such services, it could pave the way for more employees to access services which they would otherwise not have the opportunity to receive.

If you are interested in offering Reflexology in the Workplace, please contact me and I would be happy to offer a free consultation to discuss your organisations needs.

Rates to be agreed on application.

Benefits for Employers

Improved motivation, productivity and effectiveness of employees

Higher company satisfaction scores and thereby higher loyalty

Reduced feelings of stress and pressure

Reduced absenteeism

Attractive benefit for recruitment

Inexpensive and convenient way for a company to invest in employees’ wellbeing

Facts and Figures

70% of HR professionals feel that stress is a problem in their organisation (HSE, 2007)

“77% of UK managers say they work more than their contracted hours, with 72% saying this adversely affects their spouse/partner relationship and 59% saying it affected their health” UMIST/Institute of Management

“Up to 60% of all absences from work are caused by stress” Health and Safety Executive

“Stress in the workplace is undermining performance and productivity in 9 out of 10 companies” Industrial Society

“Occupational stress is one of the most serious occupational health challenges facing British Employers” Department of Health

“About 270,000 people in Britain take time off every day because of stress” BUPA

A brief history of reflexology in the workplace

Some Western countries, more notably Denmark, have been addressing the issue of stress in the work place for a number of years. It is known as the country with one of the best work-life balances in all of Europe and they are also the most likely to use reflexology to support their health. Studies have been conducted of on-site reflexology in various work forces including councils and the Danish Post Office which have shown:

reduced absenteeism

fewer sick days

reduced pain

increase in staff wellbeing and motivation

increased feelings of support

increase in loyalty