"It is no coincidence that most of our clients are in the top 10 companies in South Africa," says Martina Laurie, CEO of Handson Treatment (Pty) Ltd, a mobile massage company and wellness consultancy. "It is an indication of how important employee wellness is to top companies today.
"A lot of our business is within the major call centres treating people who are on the phone all day and experiencing high stress in the process. Because our massage system does not use oils but a scarf placed across the shoulders and neck, we are able to treat someone while they are on the phone.
"We offer employees more than just a feel good moment; it has been proven that a 10-15 minute massage around the neck and shoulders improves performance by lessening stiffness and stress around critical areas used during calls.
"Often we are asked if it reduces the efficiency of call centre staff but I always keep an eye on the call rate stats and there is never a drop, proving its effectiveness in stress relief without loss of efficiency."
Hands On started operating in the financial services market in 2002 and is still retained by its first client. Providing massages for the largest call centre under one roof presented no challenge to Martina, she went in with her team of 50 masseuses and treated 1 500 people in a day. Most of her clients are in the financial services and IT industries but anyone who wants to reward staff can bring in a team to pamper their staff.
As an empowerment company, Hands On employs 50 ladies from previously disadvantaged backgrounds who are trained through the Healing Hands SETA Training course. Originally, the company started with six masseuses and one of these original ladies, Cornelia, is now a partner in the business.
"There is an air of excitement when we arrive and even men, who are usually more reserved about the idea, soon want to have a massage once they have seen how happy everyone else is," continues Martina. "I am a CA by profession and nothing could have been further from my mind than the idea of holistic health as a career but when I turned 40, I began to view the world very differently and a personal visit to a spa bath, taught me the value of relaxation and the healing power of touch.
"Our clients use our services as a reward at the end of large projects, as an energy booster in high-stress positions and as a way to retain high-value staff, essential in today's economic climate."
I got to see the team at work and as I chatted to the manager in charge of one of the major bank's IT department, he explained that their staff of 130 had just gone through a big change management project and they were tired and so Hands On had been set up as a reward and morale booster.
While the ladies, beautifully dressed in lime and purple, (the Hands On corporate colours) massaged away at the staff for 15 minutes, there was much laughing and relaxing and most agreed that 15 minutes wasn't nearly enough! The bank had opted to use one room, with ten people being massaged at a time and there were plenty of takers, just waiting for their turn.
"It is moments like this that make our job so worthwhile and its effectiveness results in referral business - it's how I get most of my business. The fact that we have a BEE Rating of 4, also assists the corporates with their BEE supplier status, another plus factor for Hands On
"So many of our corporate clients and their staff asked if they could get more of the same, or perhaps other massage therapies, so we opened Hands On Healing in Craighall Park in February 2007. It is a beautiful central location that as a Wellness and Day Spa provides affordable, pampering half and full day packages. Our corporate packages, for ten or more people, present another opportunity for staff incentives. Plus, we offer our hands and feet massage as a travelling treat to conference, events & exhibitions organisers - we travel to the venue and delight their clients during the event.
"As a former accountant, I understand the corporate mind that knows that retaining staff involves more than just salaries and that staff turnover is expensive. Therefore wellness strategies to retain staff saves money in the long run. These services are not just for the EXCO but for all employees who need the healing power of touch," concludes Martina.
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