How Massage Chairs at BEMA Promote Employee Wellness

Whether it’s regulated working hours, workplace conditions, or minimum wages, the interests of employees have gradually gained prominence, especially in recent decades. And rightly so, because employees are every company’s most valuable resource. This is yet another reason why companies are increasingly focusing on employee health.

Marko Schleibaum is the managing director of BEMA Verpackungsabfall Deutschland GmbH and BEMA Austria. Specializing in waste management, the company offers businesses an alternative to conventional disposal methods and employs staff in both office and field roles.

In this interview, he explains why BEMA decided to provide massage chairs for its employees, the health-promoting considerations behind this decision, and how this initiative was received.

Employee satisfaction was one of the reasons that led to the purchase of a massage chair. Why?

There are, of course, several reasons, but employee satisfaction was definitely the deciding factor. It is a key element of a successful company, and it’s clear to us at BEMA that a satisfied employee is also more valuable from a business perspective. It’s important to us that our employees come to work motivated and aren’t already longing for the end of the workday first thing in the morning.

As an employer, you have to do your part to make that happen, and benefits like a massage chair are a wonderful way to do something good for employees on multiple levels—both for their physical well-being and their mental well-being.

As a managing director, I’m familiar with the situation and the associated stress of spending hours in the office or in the car. We’re also a family-run business, so we’re, so to speak, on the front lines and directly affected by working conditions—so there’s really no reason not to address this issue. This approach best serves both the aspect of showing appreciation and that of employee health.

Looking back, was the massage chair for employees worth it?

Definitely. As a company, our top priority is to be profitable. That works best with motivated employees who deliver top performance every day. Whether in logistics, purchasing, accounting, customer service, or order processing—when an employee feels comfortable, the work gets done.

And when things get a little overwhelming, breaks are an excellent way to refocus, recharge, gain a fresh perspective, and then get back to work.

However, it’s often the case that even during breaks, work-related issues are still on your mind, and you can’t really focus on relaxation and recovery. That’s where a massage chair comes in incredibly handy.

Our employees confirm this as well; they gratefully accept it, use it frequently, and truly view it as a sign of appreciation from the company. Cake and coffee are available in offices from time to time—but a full-body massage like this is in a whole different league.

The massage chair is also available to all employees and makes perfect sense. While some colleagues spend eight hours at their desks, our field staff sometimes drive several hundred kilometers in a single day.

They, too, appreciate the comfort of a relaxing back massage at the end of a long day.

Another factor that makes purchasing a massage chair worthwhile from a company’s perspective is the potential for funding through workplace wellness programs, as well as, of course, the tax benefits.

The incentives for companies to actively do something for their employees in this area are clearly there and simply need to be taken advantage of.

The first stop was the Massagesessel Welt what was BEMA's experience there?

When we first looked into this topic and began our research, there was no way around you. With a strong online presence and a friendly approach, we immediately scheduled a consultation. Michael Roedeske’s consultation can be summed up as highly professional.

During the consultation, they took over an hour to answer all my questions and provide me with a helpful overview of their wide range of services. Michael is clearly a specialist who leads his industry and knows exactly what he’s talking about.

This is particularly evident in the way he skillfully and pleasantly identifies the individual value, expectations, and needs of his customers. It wasn’t a typical sales pitch; instead, it felt very genuine and supportive. It was simply a great experience, and the result was that we definitely had to have a massage chair in our office.

And that’s exactly what happened—and the professionalism continued right through delivery.

“We received excellent advice, the chair was delivered right on time, the installation was done neatly, and we were then perfectly trained and instructed on how to use it. If someone asked me how Massagesessel Welt could Massagesessel Welt its service—I wouldn’t know how.”

Promoting Employee Health and Boosting Productivity—Massage Chairs for Human Resources Management

We view the massage chair as an investment in employee health. Health has long been a neglected issue in the workplace, yet it has a major impact on so many areas. The massage chair helps us address these aspects in the interest of our most valuable resource.

● It boosts motivation and productivity in the workplace
● It enhances concentration by allowing breaks to be used more efficiently for both physical and mental relaxation
● It helps prevent physical discomfort by relieving tension caused by poor posture and prolonged sitting.
● It’s an additional way to show employees that they’re valued and to make the workplace even more attractive.
● Reduction in sick days through health promotion
● Stronger overall employee retention

Numerous benefits that can be achieved with relatively little effort—effort that is even subsidized. For us, it was therefore an easy decision.

We’d like to thank Marko Schleibaum from BEMA for the interview and for sharing his reasons for purchasing a massage chair for his employees, and we wish him continued success, good health, and, of course, relaxation in the workplace.