Onsite Massage: 5 Things to Consider Before You Commit - a massage chair set up at a business

Onsite Massage: 5 Things to Consider Before You Commit

Amelia Wilcox
April 13, 2016
October 9, 2022
Executives
HR

If you're considering bringing office massage to your workplace, there are a few things to keep in mind. You've got to consider the cost, the effect on the workplace, and even what to plan for when your company grows.

In this article, we spell out 5 important factors to starting massage therapy at work.      

5 Things to Consider Before Starting an Office Chair Massage Program

Long before one of your employees settles into the massage chair for that first office massage, a lot of planning has taken place. Most of the planning will be done by the massage company you hire (if it's a good one, that is). But there are some factors you'll need to consider as well. Check it out.

seated massage for the office

1. Consider the Cost of Workplace Massage

Before going too far in your planning process, you've got to plan for the cost of office massage. Costs of onsite massage are based on how frequently you want massages, how long massages will be, and how many people will get massaged. Here are some of our more popular articles on workplace massage price:

2. Plan for Changes to Employee Morale

You know when you get a brand-new pair of shoes that you're super excited about...and then the rest of your clothes feel kind of blah in comparison? That's a little like what it's like when a company with poor employee engagement starts up a massage program.

If you're not careful, with a new massage program underway, your employees are likely to start to expect just as much attention in other areas.

(By which I mean, it's time to step up your game.)

Starting an onsite employee massage program at work is a really great way to start boosting your employee benefits. But it's not enough to sustain everything on its own. Happier, more focused employees (the kind you'll create once you start a massage program) will start to expect a well-rounded workplace. Fair warning.

Related: Proven Ways to Boost Employee Morale: Why Office Massage Delivers

3. Allow Room for Your Office Massage Program to Grow

A good massage company will be able to grow your massage program as your business grows. The last thing you want is for your massage company to struggle to keep up with the success of your company.

Where one massage therapist was enough in a small start-up, a larger team of therapists will be needed to accommodate your growing company. And don't forget that will be a bigger bill.

As we've said before, massage programs are great ways to boost employee morale. But a suddenly killed massage program is a guaranteed way to make for some unhappy employees. So make sure you keep in mind how the massage program can grow alongside your business.

Related: 7 Ways to Screw Up Your Corporate Chair Massage Program

4. Decide on the Details for Your Office Massage Service

There are lots of factors to consider when bringing in chair massage. Not all office massage programs are created equal.

Depending on the kind of results you want, you could choose from a seated massage program or table massage. Massage therapists could come in a couple times a month or every day of the week. Massage sessions could last anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour (or more!)

Your answers to these questions will determine what kind of program you build, and what the overall effect will be on your employees and your business. Once again, any massage company who knows their stuff will be able to walk you through these details to create your perfect program.

Related: What is Office Massage?

5. Make Room for Workplace Massage

I don't just mean thinking about where in the office the massages will take place. Chair massages can happen pretty much anywhere. More important than where the massages will happen, is how a chair massage program will fit in with your culture.

If you start a massage program but then aren't willing or able to move important meetings around to accommodate the program, it will fall flat. Generally, massage programs don't interfere with the day-to-day work life in an office. One 15-minute break for each employee to get a chair massage won't cause your system to break.

But you've got to keep in mind that employees will start to really look forward to massaging day, and you don't want to continually schedule mandatory meetings at the same time as massage sessions. Ideally, you'd never start an office massage program without knowing it's a good cultural fit in the first place.

Disclaimer

By participating in/reading the service/website/blog/email series on this website, you acknowledge that this is a personal website/blog and is for informational purposes and should not be seen as mental health care advice. You should consult with a licensed professional before you rely on this website/blog’s information. All things written on this website should not be seen as therapy treatment and should not take the place of therapy or any other health care or mental health advice. Always seek the advice of a mental health care professional or physician. The content on this blog is not meant to and does not substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Amelia Wilcox
Amelia Wilcox
Amelia Wilcox is the Founder and CEO of Nivati, a leader in corporate massage and employee mental health support since 2010. Her high-growth B2B company provides employee stress management tools that arm businesses with actionable data and positive employee experiences to improve wellbeing, boost morale, and increase engagement. Amelia has exponentially grown her company from a solo living-room service business to an international technology brand.