Stressed council staff offered massages in Brighton and Hove (From The Argus)
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Stressed council staff offered massages in Brighton and Hove
7:00am Friday 10th August 2012 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter
Tense and stressed-out council staff can sign up for massages at work.
A message sent to Brighton and Hove City Council staff has promised the opportunity to “relax and unwind” as a specialist visits its headquarters to perform 20-minute chair massages at the cost of £10.
The local authority said all the fees would be covered by individuals with experts adding it was important to treat any injuries that may be suffered at work.
But Brighton and Hove City Councillor Dawn Barnett said: “I don’t think it is right for people to get massages at work.
“People go to work to work, not to be pampered and receive treatments.”
A council spokeswoman said: “From time to time we allow health professionals to visit council offices to offer their services to staff. “These events normally link to national initiatives like stress awareness and back care week.
“Employees make the appointments in their own time and cover all costs.”
Ali Walters, of Brighton-based Dream Time Treatments, who will carry out the work, said it would reduce stress, encourage relaxation and ease tired muscles. She said, according to the NHS, back pain is the second most common cause of long-term sickness in the UK.
Ms Walters added other firms, such as Ikea and DHL, already offered chair massages to its staff.
Ms Walters said: “It’s a responsible firm or organisation that thinks about its workers and how their environment affects them.
“Sitting down all day in an office environment has a big impact on our bodies and causes lots of strains – it’s the equivalent of running on concrete for an extended period.
“This is not fluffy bunny stuff. This is about treating things that can affect companies and their staff.
“The council does not pay for any of this. It has been initiated by individuals who do this in their breaks.
“It is quite a cheap treatment but I have made my own decision to keep prices low so they are accessible to everyone.”
Appointments are being offered for August 24 at King’s House in Grand Avenue, Hove.
According to the message sent to all workers, it said: “Treatments involve, massage, acupressure work and stretches and mainly focus on the upper back and shoulders. “However, work on the arms, head and neck as well as the lower back is also common. “A limited amount of work can also be done on the legs and feet.”
Do you support council workers being offered massages at work? Tell us what you think by writing to our letters page, emailing letters@theargus.co.uk or leaving a comment below.
Comments(22)
Fight Back
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7:33am Fri 10 Aug 12
john5001
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7:42am Fri 10 Aug 12
ray ellerton
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7:48am Fri 10 Aug 12
rightback
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7:59am Fri 10 Aug 12
johnthomas
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8:24am Fri 10 Aug 12
's the problem?
kennydoit
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8:43am Fri 10 Aug 12
HJarrs
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8:48am Fri 10 Aug 12
ray ellerton wrote:I have sympathy for you having worked ALL your life. I at least went to school and had some education rather being set to work as a child.
I have worked all my life, in all weathers, and at sometimes horrible locations doing a very physical job and NEVER once felt the need for a massage to make nme feel better about it. Poor pampered diddums...get real, it's a tough old world out there...
I have also at times work onsite and in all weathers. I see that some of my colleagues could do with a bit of TLC as many suffer aches and pains and obesity, sometimes to an extent that prematurely ends their careers. Machismo and lack of opportunity or education means small problems are allowed to grow. Causing a burden to us all. So, I think that it is you that needs to get real!
I note that in Germany factories are being altered to reduce heavy lifting and other tasks that lead to undue wear and tear, as they have realised that manual workers will now have to work far later in life. I bet BMW or Mercedes or VW offer far more than the modest council offer.
Enema of the peephole
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8:49am Fri 10 Aug 12
Hard work and sustained physical activity have several health and psychological benefits - I wonder if any staff will be clambering to pay £10 to help themselves get on with their job, by getting on with their job.
Andy R
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8:56am Fri 10 Aug 12
ray ellerton wrote:Oooh Ray! You're sooooooh.....macho!
I have worked all my life, in all weathers, and at sometimes horrible locations doing a very physical job and NEVER once felt the need for a massage to make nme feel better about it. Poor pampered diddums...get real, it's a tough old world out there...
Was it a....you know....VERY physical job?
s&k
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9:23am Fri 10 Aug 12
Valerie Paynter
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9:31am Fri 10 Aug 12
For at least 3 or 4 decades now, it has been possible for people to come into offices with sandwiches to sell to people in them. For hairdressers to come in and wash people's hair (for a fee) in hospital when people are too ill and bedbound to do it themselves.
Etcetera!
Sitting in front of computers is bad for the back, bad for the wrist (a friend has just had her wrist repetitive strain injury OPERATED on), really bad for the neck and shoulders, as is sitting at any desk, just writing even.
These massages should be promoted and done even more. Might prevent some of the slackers in there going off for 8 weeks at a time for 'stress'.
Fercri Sakes
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9:37am Fri 10 Aug 12
If Dawn Barnett needs to pick a fight she should choose better targets that this. Or maybe she should be having a go at her bosses who run the country.
HJarrs
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11:09am Fri 10 Aug 12
Fercri Sakes wrote:The Argus has only two rent-a-quot-ers; Dawn Barnett and that bloke from the parking protest. They should widen the net. Plenty of eccentrics in B&H to choose from - I am alway available for a quote!
Ha ha! Classic Tory Fail! If Dawn Barnett needs to pick a fight she should choose better targets that this. Or maybe she should be having a go at her bosses who run the country.
bruce_
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11:27am Fri 10 Aug 12
RickH
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11:28am Fri 10 Aug 12
HJarrs wrote:I agree re 'rent-a-quote'. I note from Dawn Barnett's declaration of interests, that she is neither an employer or an employee; strange she should then consider herself a expert!
Fercri Sakes wrote: Ha ha! Classic Tory Fail! If Dawn Barnett needs to pick a fight she should choose better targets that this. Or maybe she should be having a go at her bosses who run the country.The Argus has only two rent-a-quot-ers; Dawn Barnett and that bloke from the parking protest. They should widen the net. Plenty of eccentrics in B&H to choose from - I am alway available for a quote!
Enema of the peephole
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12:02pm Fri 10 Aug 12
Are you a stressed council worker searching tinternet for "Brighton massage" and inadvertently ended up at Argus?
I meant laborious, grappling, awkward...just some of the words you might recall from your job appraisal?
mutuality
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12:06pm Fri 10 Aug 12
RickH
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1:24pm Fri 10 Aug 12
Enema of the peephole wrote:Perhaps rather than pick apart another's post, you would be so kind as to substantiate the statement "Massage can actually increases stress levels...." - care to cite a source at all?
You forgot to award people marks out ten Bruce. It's nice for everyone to know you found it mostly fair. Are you a stressed council worker searching tinternet for "Brighton massage" and inadvertently ended up at Argus? I meant laborious, grappling, awkward...just some of the words you might recall from your job appraisal?
ray ellerton
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2:04pm Fri 10 Aug 12
yes i did go to school, had to leave at 15 and go to work to help support myself and my Nan who had brought me up. Went to uni as a mature student during early 90's recession as no work, but returned to manual work after putting up with **** and office politics at a professional position...far more work satisfaction when you actually produce something
Hard times
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4:33pm Fri 10 Aug 12
Replaced
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6:03pm Fri 10 Aug 12
RickH says...
7:09am Fri 10 Aug 12