Were you aware that 360 million working days are lost annually in the UK at a cost of £8 billion and half of these are 'stress related'?

Using regular complementary therapy treatments has been helping companies to increase work efficiency and reduce lost days to sickness.

Many organisations now employ complementary therapists on a regular basis to help reduce stress and work related illness. Reflexology is proving very popular as only the shoes and socks need to be removed.


How can reflexology benefit your company?
On a regular basis reflexology will assist with the following:-

How reflexology can be used within your organisation
Employees can be fully responsible for their own treatments or it can be subsidised by the company in full or part. A small room would be required on your premises to work. Treatment last approx. 30 minutes.

It is estimated that 75% of all illness is stress related.


The effects of stress
Substantially reduced efficiency and accuracy of work produced.
Reduced performance in physical tasks.
Negative effect on abstract planning, decision-making and creativity.
Tiredness and irritability.
Weakening of the immune system and the development of physical illness


What can be done?
Some countries notably Denmark, have been addressing this problem for a number of years. Their occupational health services have been working closely with employers to provide a flexible approach to the reduction of stress and work related illness. As part of this initiative, some firms now involve complementary therapists in the maintenance of well-being and reflexologists are increasingly employed by companies in Denmark with impressive results.

Odense Post Office in Denmark which has employed a full-time reflexologist since 1990 reports saving around £100,000 a year due to a 13.3% reduction in sickness and absenteeism.

Ishoj Municipal Health Department recorded 2,499 fewer sick hours over a 6 month period in which employees received reflexology, giving a saving of £21,940.

SAS Cargo estimated a financial saving of £2,000 a month when employees were receiving reflexology.

Fonss and Hove, solicitors in Kolding, found that employees receiving treatment showed greater motivation and enhanced working ability. After a four year period, the need for treatments declined because of minimal sickness and absenteeism.

Firms in the UK are now beginning to follow suit by offering reflexology to their staff. They include such organisations as multi-nationals, city councils, oil companies, football teams, supermarket chains, and department stores, computer firms, a dance company, a fire station, schools and hospitals and many small businesses.

Reduced sickness and absenteeism, increased productivity and financial benefits for the company are the visible results. Less obvious perhaps are the positive effects on morale amongst employees who feel they are being treated with respect and a caring attitude.

The institute, in reinforcing the old adage that prevention is better than cure, reports that reflexology and other complementary therapies are increasing being used to combat work related stress. Now companies are offering their employees the availability of treatment in the workplace.

They can take time out in the working day, they come back recharged, refreshed and work better, so there's a pay back on terms of increased productivity, happiness and commitment.

By making reflexology treatments available to staff companies can reduce levels of sickness and absenteeism, increase productivity, develop staff enthusiasm and morale, and instil an atmosphere of caring and respect with the result that they cut costs and increase profits!


What evidence is there to validate reflexology?
The system of applying pressure to points on the feet to affect health is an ancient form of therapy, which originally appears to have developed in China alongside acupuncture. Various forms of pressure point therapy have been used around the world ever since. At the beginning of this century the practice received scientific support from an American ear, nose and throat specialist, who documented the analgesic, anaesthetising and healing effects of such pressure work.

Nowadays a growing number of hospital departments and medical practitioners are involved in undertaking research to validate reflexology. A range of medical benefits have so far been identified by clinical studies, medical test or monitoring, including effects of blood pressure, the immune system, respiratory function amongst asthmatics, blood sugar levels amongst diabetes, labour times in pregnancy, premenstrual syndrome, post-operative recovery, the relief of musculoskeletal problems including non-specific back pain, improvements in bowel function (e.g. with constipation and irritable bowel syndrome), relief of headaches, migraine and sinus problems, relief from jet-lag and a reduction in stress, anxiety and depression.

I have over 8 years experience in reflexology and other Complementary Therapies, am fully insured and a member of embody http://www.embody.uk.net. I can offer treatments to corporate clients on site in offices.