| As more and more is expected of workers during | | | | owners think that wellness programs will be |
| these difficult times of layoffs and | | | | expensive and are only for corporate giants like |
| budget-crunches, maintaining good health is | | | | Google. But they quickly learn that weekly chair |
| essential in the workplace. Without a healthy and | | | | massage, for example, doesn't cost anymore |
| vibrant workforce, productivity suffers, further | | | | than an office lunch." |
| increasing hardship on the company. | | | | The Back Rub Company's team has also found |
| "Everyone is cutting back to save money," said | | | | that wellness program participation rates at small |
| Tiffany Richards, owner of The Back Rub | | | | to mid-size companies are actually higher than |
| Company, a Phoenix-based firm that provides | | | | those of large corporations - mainly because the |
| on-site employee health and wellness programs | | | | owner is on board and backs the program. |
| nationally. "Our experience has been that | | | | "At HOM, Inc., we value our employees and |
| affordable options like a quick chair massage or a | | | | understand the correlation between their |
| weekly yoga class are one of the only things | | | | well-being and job productivity and morale," said |
| employees look forward to, especially when | | | | Michael Shore, President and CEO of the firm that |
| everyone is stressed out and worried, trying to | | | | specializes in the administration and operation of |
| stretch resources." | | | | affordable housing programs. "We also strive to |
| Even the smallest employee-incentives make a big | | | | be as progressive as possible for a small |
| difference. The American Journal of Health | | | | company in the employee benefits that we offer. |
| Promotions shows that for every dollar spent on | | | | Chair massages are relatively inexpensive and |
| wellness, employers can get up to $10 back | | | | employees truly value and look forward to them. |
| through fewer medical claims, reduced | | | | We find that the employees have a positive |
| absenteeism, improved productivity and other | | | | outlook on our company for offering this benefit, |
| factors. | | | | too." |
| "Smart companies understand that these | | | | Businesses can never afford to have sluggish, |
| programs increase their ROI, reduce worker's | | | | un-productive workers, but as the crisis looms on, |
| compensation and insurance claims and raise | | | | dynamic and healthy employees are essential to |
| employee morale," said Richards. "Many business | | | | keep a company on track until things turn around. |