You’re lying in a dimly lit room, inhaling a soothing aroma of grapefruit and bergamot. Flute music plays softly in the background as a masseuse kneads the knots in your back, releasing weeks of pent-up tension.“ Ah,” you think to yourself. “I love my job.”

For most people, work is the last thing that comes to mind during a massage. But what if that hour of bliss was actually a gift from your boss?

With the workplace becoming more and more demanding, employee incentives are vital to keeping staff morale and productivity high, said Paul Dorf of the New Jersey-based Compensation Resources, a human resources consulting firm.

“The most important thing in any company is to keep employees motivated and happy, ”Dorf said.“And the best way to do that is to recognize and appreciate them.”While options abound, no doubt a free trip to the day spa — in the form of a gift certificate or group outing — will earn big points with employees. Plus, it ties in well with the trend to promote employee health and wellness.

At DePasquale The Spa in Morris Plains, employers can choose from a variety of individual services or group packages. Prices range; renting out the men’s area for a couple of hours, for instance, will cost $1,500 to $2,000.“We constantly do stuff for corporations,” said Stacey Catalogna, the spa’s marketing director.“We have companies that will come in and rent out the spa for a day, and employees will come throughout the day.”

At Elements Spa at the Crystal Springs Resort in Vernon, companies can select from several group packages or design their own, said Carole Huettig, Crystal Springs’ vice president of sales and marketing.In addition to various pampering services —massages, body treatments, facials, pedicures, etcetera — packages can include use of the resort’s fitness center. So, employees can consult with a personal trainer, take a belly dancing class, and finish the day off with a mud wrap and deep tissue massage.

Huettig said they have one client, the owner of a small advertising firm,who treats his staff to a spa excursion every year.

“He gives them a full day at the spa, where they can unwind,” she said.“This is pure pampering. It’s something very relaxing, and in some cases, it’s something employees wouldn’t do for themselves.”So, if you’re a boss looking to reward your staff, why not consider spa-giving?

And for all of you employees out there, slip this article under the boss’ door as a gentle hint. She’ll probably appreciate the suggestion.

Before you know it, that “argh” you feel at work will give way to “ahhh.”

So, if you’re a boss looking to reward your staff, why not consider spa-giving?

In addition to various pampering services —massages, body treatments, facials, pedicures, etcetera — packages can include use of the resort’s fitness center. So, employees can consult with a personal trainer, take a belly dancing class, and finish the day off with a mud wrap and deep tissue massage.

“We constantly do stuff for corporations,” said Stacey Catalogna, the spa’s marketing director.“We have companies that will come in and rent out the spa for a day, and employees will come throughout the day.”

While options abound, no doubt a free trip to the day spa — in the form of a gift certificate or group outing — will earn big points with employees. Plus, it ties in well with the trend to promote employee health and wellness.