According To Statistics Canada, stress costs Canadian businesses an estimated $12 billion a year in reduced productivity, accidents, compensation claims, absenteeism, employee turnover, health insurance and medical expenses.

Recognizing these huge costs, including physical stress from repetitive motion or poor ergonomics, Valley Healing Therapeutic Massage owner Sean Murphy is introducing a worksite wellness-massage program dubbed WorkWell to help employers in the Comox Valley.

鈥淏y providing a 10 to 15-minute chair massage to individuals at their jobs, the employer will reduce costs through healthier employees who will not only work harder because they feel rejuvenated, but because they feel appreciated and morale is so positive,鈥� Murphy said.

The program is designed to be flexible in implementation. Murphy says employers can cover all or a portion of the $15 cost for the massage for each employee, recognizing it as an investment, or allow staff members who so choose to pay directly.

Sessions can be scheduled periodically or on a recurring basis, which is ideal for sustained benefits from the program.

According to Murphy, studies say the benefits of even a five-minute chair massage include increased energy, reduced blood pressure and anxiety, enhanced creative thinking, increased immunity, and relief of muscle tension and headaches.

The WorkWell chair massage can also be a feature at an event sponsored by a company such as a grand opening or customer appreciation event.

Valley Healing Therapeutic Massage opened in Comox in 2011 at the Beaufort Professional Building.

www.ValleyHealingMassage.com.