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A toast to corporate health

Companies seem to think it is a good idea to invest in the fitness of their employees, writes ANIMA BALAKRISHNAN

PHOTO: K. R. DEEPAK

EXERCISING OPTIONS In the workplace

Twenty five-year-old Vidyadharan Anand, a software professional, works out in the gym at the Infosys campus in Bangalore at least thrice a week.

After a high-pressure job that has him clocking long hours a day at work and travelling long-distances, working out is often the way to unwind. To help him with his workout are trainers from the fitness facility Chisel.

There is a growing number of fitness freaks in the IT, management, BPO sector and other MNCs, who are availing the facility given by the company for them to stay fit. At Infosys, the surge in the number of people working out saw a second gym being opened in the campus.

With professionals beginning to take fitness seriously, corporates are striking deals with fitness clubs for the sake of the employees.

The Western mantra of investing in employees' health as it assures a return of investment, is beginning to find a foothold in the Indian IT and management hub too.

"A perceptible change has taken place in the way employee fitness is perceived in the past couple of years," says Yashwant Saran, Vice President, Sales and Mar keting, FitnessOne, which has centres in Chennai, Bangalore and Coimbatore. "The pronounced need to keep the employees fit is being realised by the corporates," he adds. FitnessOne, that has specific programmes for corporate fitness and wellness, has a centre at the IT park in Chennai that caters to the needs of around 35 companies.

Saran attributes the philosophy behind the company's interest in employee fitness to various factors. "Companies are willing to go that extra mile and spend on the employee's health," says Saran. "They believe it will reduce attrition and absenteeism, enhance productivity and build team spirit," he explains.

In an arena where the buzzword is competition, the fitness package is also a brownie point to lure and keep the employees.

The fitness factor

"At times, the fitness package is given to employees as a perk, for having achieved a target," says Mrinalini Sekar, Director, Blue Fitness Centre, Chennai.

Mrinalini notes that there has been an increased awareness about fitness among the employees too, that is prompting the corporates to pay attention to the fitness factor.

The companies go in for corporate plans that cover the employee's fitness expense entirely or at least partially. "If the company pays a part of the fee, the employee pitches in with the rest. That way, the burden is not much on the employee," says Sekar.

On occasions, there are also informal deals worked out. If the company introduces 30-40 customers, they are offered the gym's services at a reduced rate.

"Usually the corporate plan would mean 20-30 per cent less than the regular fee," says Saran.

Most companies leave it to the employees if or not to avail the fitness option.

Some of the MNCs have a fitness space of their own and they outsource trainers, nutritionists and physiotherapists from fitness centres.

At Pricol in Coimbatore that has a state-of-the-art gym in the campus, a nominal Rs. 50 is kept aside for fitness from employees' salary. What has been worked out here is a loose collaboration where the members of the neighbouring sports college help out the employees with training, says M. Ramakrishnan, Senior Manager, HR, Pricol.

"Until a couple of years ago, employees were sceptical about fitness," informs Saran. "But their lifestyle has made them realise the necessity for it and people have begun to take it seriously," says Saran.

"Young ones new to the job may consider working out a fad," says Anand. "But the older ones are very serious about the health aspects," he adds.

Improves productivity

Ramakrishnan says even though no study has been done on the impact of workouts on employees, it is observed that there is lesser absenteeism and consistent output among people who are fitness conscious.

"Gyms and fitness centres have now become a part of the campus infrastructure," says an Oracle India spokesperson.

The company has in-house fitness centres in Bangalore and Hyderabad. Though the trend of corporates joining hands with fitness centres is common in the metros, it is yet to take off in smaller cities like Coimbatore.

"The concept of companies tying up with fitness centres and covering employees under a corporate fitness plan is yet to catch up," says Ganesh Prabhu, President, Flex Fitness Club. "The stress here is on the individual's interest, which is not very high," says Prabhu.

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