DAVIS COUNTY — It’s on-the-job training and community service all rolled into one.

Weber State University’s employee wellness program includes monthly chair massages from the massage students at Broadview University’s Layton Campus, giving the students the chance to work with clients and giving the WSU employees a chance to de-stress and work out the ergonomics issues caused by working at a desk all day.

“We give them a 15-minute vacation from their cubicles,” said Kelley Sloan, the massage program chair at Broadview University’s Layton campus.

The partnership was initiated by Weber State, who was looking for something new to augment their wellness program. Right away, the response from the WSU employees was positive.

“We had 47 people come to the first one, which is a huge number,” said Rachel Smith, the employee wellness coordinator for Weber State.

“Since then, we’ve averaged about 60 people each time. We’ve started having them make appointments in advance, because people would come and wait 30 to 45 minutes to get a 15-minute massage.”

In addition to the massages, the Broadview students talk to the employees about any back, neck or headache issues they might have and discuss possible causes.

According to Sloan, those causes are often in the way the employees’ cubicles are set up.

“Some of the office ergonomics we use are just not in our best interests,” she said.

She added that the massage students use these sessions to learn about communicating with clients. As for the WSU employees, they’re always happy customers.

“Every time they come out, I have people ask ‘They’re going to come again next month, right?’” said Smith.

According to Broadview, that answer will likely be yes for the foreseeable future.

“They’re good people to work with, and they treat us well,” said Sloan. “It’s very symbiotic.”

Smith agrees.

“It’s a win-win situation,” she said, then laughed. “Probably more win for us.”