With a good majority of the workforce suffering from chronic diseases, the spotlight is on wellbeing at India Inc. Health & wellness is no longer only about corporate responsibility but is also a critical business performance strategy.
Laser tag lunches, on-campus nap rooms, meditation sessions, fitness challenges… wellness initiatives have taken off in a big way in corporate India. Where these potential winners often fall short, though, is in not being part of a long-term cohesive health and wellness (H&W) plan. As the India Health and Wellbeing Study 2018 points out, while India Inc is taking piecemeal measures, “an overarching health and wellness strategy is largely missing.”
When you go from the occasional fitness week to a clearly defined H&W plan tailor-made to the needs of your workforce, you will see payoffs in unexpected ways. Here are five compelling reasons to tackle H&W with the same arsenal of focus, analytics and planning you use for other business goals.
LOWERS COSTS AND BOOSTS EMPLOYEE PRODUCTIVITY While reduced employee healthcare and insurance costs are an obvious benefit of a sound H&W plan, it also has great potential to drive down other costs. According to “Staying@Work,” a report on employee wellness and productivity in India, companies with the most effective health and productivity programmes clock 34% more revenue per employee than those whose health initiatives lack impact.
“Presenteeism” – when a person comes to work but underperforms because of stress or illness – could also be tackled with strategic use of tools like diagnostics and thoughtfully timed wellness initiatives.
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Employee wellness drives performance by reducing lost productivity costs. A detailed population study of one of our own clients, a BFSI company with over 8,000 employees across five locations, revealed an increased risk of anaemia, diabetes and hypertension — all of which could have potentially impacted an employee’s absenteeism and performance if it had gone undiagnosed.
DRIVES ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE Crafting a full-fledged well-being strategy has a demonstrable effect on employee morale as much as productivity. Productive, engaged employees, in turn, help the business thrive. The result is a virtuous circle of wellness that boosts bottomlines and attracts more customers, thanks to enhanced business offerings.
BUILDS A STRONG EMPLOYER BRAND Making H&W synonymous with your employer brand can give you an edge when it comes to recruitment and retention as well. In one industry survey, two-thirds of organisations said employee well-being programmes are a critical component of their employment brand/culture. Chalk out a strategy that puts H&W at the core of company benefits and make strategic investments so the plan sticks and is executed properly over the years – your employer identity will also see dividends as a result.
Fitness Regime For The Busy Executive
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Hectic schedules and full-time jobs don't have to get in the way of your weight loss.
Stick to these tips to get past the roadblocks.
Hectic schedules and full-time jobs don't have to get in the way of your weight loss.
Stick to these tips to get past the roadblocks.
Maintaining a to-do list is your thing, so just sneak in that gym/yoga/zumba appointment too.
We agree that there is a lot to do, but you can surely take some time out for achieving your fitness goals.
Maintaining a to-do list is your thing, so just sneak in that gym/yoga/zumba appointment too.
We agree that there is a lot to do, but you can surely take some time out for achieving your fitness goa..
Read More
Working out first thing in the morning guarantees that the job is done before excuses begin to pop up.
The first few mornings will be hard, but the more you will force yourself to do it, the easier it will eventually become.
Working out first thing in the morning guarantees that the job is done before excuses begin to pop up.
The first few mornings will be hard, but the more you will force yourself to do it, the easier ..
Read More
Maintain a calorie journal! Yes, it sounds too much, but it totally helps.
If you don't want to write it down, you can also do it via various apps.
Filling out your servings will help you realise and keep a tab on your portion size, and the need to exercise control.
Maintain a calorie journal! Yes, it sounds too much, but it totally helps.
If you don't want to write it down, you can also do it via various apps.
Filling out your servings will help you realise a..
Read More
Initially it might seem like a lot of effort, but in the long run it will save you a lot of time.
Planning lunch ahead of time will help you stick to the healthy options instead of buying a greasy slice of pizza.
Plus, once you invest in the ingredients and they are readily available in your kitchen, there will be no excuse for not packing a nutritious lunch.
Initially it might seem like a lot of effort, but in the long run it will save you a lot of time.
Planning lunch ahead of time will help you stick to the healthy options instead of buying a greasy s..
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Instead of hitting up the vending machine or office candy bowl for an afternoon snack, carry at least five pieces of fresh fruit each week and display them on your desk on Monday morning.
Whenever you want a snack, just stretch your hand out!
These munchies will be light and nutritious and will prevent you from overeating, later in the day.
Instead of hitting up the vending machine or office candy bowl for an afternoon snack, carry at least five pieces of fresh fruit each week and display them on your desk on Monday morning.
Whenever y..
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Just because you are trying to adhere to a fitness regime, does not mean you stop having fun.
Stick to having one drink only, and may be choose white wine over anything else, savour it and sip it slowly.
Just because you are trying to adhere to a fitness regime, does not mean you stop having fun.
Stick to having one drink only, and may be choose white wine over anything else, savour it and sip it sl..
STRENGTHENS YOUR ORGANISATION’S SOCIAL CAPITAL H&W is increasingly a growing expectation among the talent that organisations want to recruit and retain. This is especially true of some segments like millennials as well as others who share this ethos and seek out wellness benefits. A welldesigned H&W strategy can help organisations strengthen their social capital with this talent.
BOOSTS RECOGNITION AND VISIBILITY By investing time and effort in your H&W plan, you stand to see better brand value and, consequently, recognition in the industry. So, how do you know you are getting it right? Apart from the ability to draw in great talent, another barometer is third-party accreditations. For instance, global healthcare non-profit Arogya World is committed to building “100 Healthy Workplaces” across India that meet criteria such as focus on employee fitness, access to healthy food, work-life balance and more. Visibility from such initiatives can fortify your business identity.
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With well-being inching up the corporate agenda, right up there with productivity, inclusion and citizenship, the time’s right for a structured health and productivity plan that is data-driven and insight-led.
And, with the right partners to take care of the logistics and personalisation, you will find it doesn't have to be all-consuming or a "man-hour eater" for your team. So, pull out that blueprint and chart the way for a robust programme that reflects the blood and sweat behind it.
(The writer is cofounder, healthi)
Boost Productivity With Tech: 5 Gadgets That Make You More Efficient At Work
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Focus, communication and connectivity are the key elements of productivity at work. In order to maintain these, one might need to put in additional efforts, both physically and mentally. However, in a world of technology, gadgets have made everything easier.
Here's a list of five gizmos that will simplify communication and keep you focussed and connected at work, thereby boosting overall productivity.
Focus, communication and connectivity are the key elements of productivity at work. In order to maintain these, one might need to put in additional efforts, both physically and mentally. However, in ..
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Your mobile devices will never run short of power with this 2400mAh window mounted solar charger. Yes, it is powered by solar energy and flaunts an interesting ultra-thin design. The built-in sucker allows the charger to firmly attach on the car or office window. It also acts as a power bank with a built-in battery that provides power to your mobile device on-the-go.
Your mobile devices will never run short of power with this 2400mAh window mounted solar charger. Yes, it is powered by solar energy and flaunts an interesting ultra-thin design. The built-in sucker ..
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The Surface Hub 2 is designed to enhance productivity by offering a platform for collaboration and creativity in a digital workplace. It has a sleek 50.5-inch 4K display that can be rotated with a slight push, turning it into a huge portrait screen. With the new Microsoft Whiteboard app, its features on the large touchscreen make you feel like you are at a real whiteboard.
The Surface Hub 2 is designed to enhance productivity by offering a platform for collaboration and creativity in a digital workplace. It has a sleek 50.5-inch 4K display that can be rotated with a sl..
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Here is a comfortable and discreet device that attaches to your back with a hypoallergenic adhesive to help you stay in the right posture and strengthen your back while you sit at your workstation for long hours. It comes with an app that features live monitoring of your posture status using an animated character, lets you track your progress and view your daily statistics.
Here is a comfortable and discreet device that attaches to your back with a hypoallergenic adhesive to help you stay in the right posture and strengthen your back while you sit at your workstation fo..
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This Bluetooth smartpen for iOS and Android devices is a great tool to transform what you write by hand into a digital file. You just need to write on a piece of paper using the smart pen, and Bluetooth technology transmits what you write to your connected device. A receiver, clipped at the top of the paper you are working on, detects smartpen writing and transmits it in real-time via Bluetooth to your mobile device.
This Bluetooth smartpen for iOS and Android devices is a great tool to transform what you write by hand into a digital file. You just need to write on a piece of paper using the smart pen, and Blueto..
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The Light Phone 2 is a simple, 4G LTE phone with a black and white matte e-ink display. Often referred to as a ‘dumb phone’, it can only make calls, send texts and get directions. And that’s all you need from your phone when you need to focus at work and cure your addiction to apps — it eliminates time-wasters like social media apps and games. The Light Phone 2 also has an alarm clock, speaker, microphone and physical buttons.
The Light Phone 2 is a simple, 4G LTE phone with a black and white matte e-ink display. Often referred to as a ‘dumb phone’, it can only make calls, send texts and get directions. And that’s all you ..
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this column are that of the writer. The facts and opinions expressed here do not reflect the views of www.economictimes.com.)
