Corporate Stress in the workplace – the facts

According to the Health & Safety Executive, employee absenteeism is running at 13 million days and is costing the economy £12 billion a year. They estimate that stress is responsible for one third of this cost, and that it is the single largest cause of occupational ill health.

Other impacts of stress on your organisation

• Staff morale decreases

• Productivity decreases

• Mistakes & therefore costs increase          

• Staff turnover increases

• Customer care suffers

What is stress & how does it affect my employees?

It is important to know that stress can be both positive & negative. Positive stress is generated by the body when the mind perceives the current task to be achievable, even if it is challenging. The body generates hormones that enable the employee to meet these challenges, by boosting brain function, physical strength and stamina as required. Once the challenge is over, the body returns itself to its normal state & the stress hormones are removed by natural processes.

Negative stress occurs when there is a sustained period of ‘challenge’ with seemingly no end or break in sight, or when the challenge is not perceived as reasonable or achievable by the person who is facing it. In this instance the body starts to over-produce and under-remove the stress hormones, causing an overload of the physical and mental body systems. This can then inevitably lead to impaired performance at work, and a general decline in health.

Complementary therapies can help

Complementary therapies intervene in this cycle & restore the body - mind balance. Many organisations already recognise the value complementary therapies can bring to their corporate stress management programmes.

Therapies including body & head massage help to bring the body back into balance, providing both relaxation and rejuventation to the body & mind. There are many other benefits to the individual & organisation:-

• Circulation is improved bringing a fresh blood supply to organs & tissues; vital if the body and mind are to function at their

• Muscular tension and pain is eased, enabling employees to concentrate on their jobs

• The removal of toxins from the body is accelerated, again vital if the body and mind are to function at their best

• The immune system is boosted, thereby helping to prevent future illness & consequent absenteeism

By offering employees the chance to benefit from these therapies you will help to optimise their performance at work & improve their overall wellbeing outside work as well.

How could it work here?

There are a variety of approaches that can be taken. Most employers choose to actively promote the availability of treatments, allow staff 1/2 hour away from work to recieve a treatment, and in some instances they choose to financially subsidise the treatment costs as well.

Ideally a treatment room/area would need to be set aside where treatments can be given in relative privacy and confidence. All other equipment is provided by us. Treatments can usually be performed fully or partially clothed & are tailored to suit the environment, the needs of the client & the time available.

I currently provide onsite treatments to organisations across the Bristol & Bath areas, in conjunction with other therapists who can offer other therapies such as Seated Accupressure Massage and Reflexology. If you would like to discuss this service in more detail please go to www.questcorporate.org.uk or contact me: