Workout after work: India Inc flexes its fitness muscle as employers make workplace wellness harder to skip

Looking to work off those Diwali indulgences? Your workplace could be the place to start. From well-equipped gyms and group classes to memberships across city-wide networks, employers are making it easier for employees to fit fitness into their working day. Companies such as Procter & Gamble, InMobi, Walmart Global Tech and HSBC India are expanding workplace fitness initiatives. Providers say the focus is shifting from just providing fitness as an employee perk to getting people to use it.

Wide Range of Offerings

Cult for Corporates, the enterprise wellness arm of Cult.fit says companies increasingly want managed facilities with certified trainers, safety checks and a variety of classes. Demand for on-site gyms is strongest at large technology campuses, manufacturing hubs and other workplaces where nearby fitness options are limited, said Arjit Shukla, head of business (enterprise) at Cult for Corporates.

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"Domestic Indian enterprises and conglomerates now account for more than a quarter of our enterprise volume. The primary demand is for a fully managed, end-to-end operational stack," Shukla told ET. Employers are also broadening their offerings to include strength training, yoga and dance fitness, as well as fitness assessments and nutrition guidance, he said.

Gym membership provider Fit.Zone says corporate enquiries for employee memberships have risen about 15% from last year. Demand, once concentrated among large companies, is now coming from mid-sized businesses and startups as well.

"Companies approaching us mostly ask for a combination of access to gyms and fitness studios, group classes, access across multiple locations or cities, fitness assessments and personal training," said Arvindkumar D Porwal, CEO of Fitzone Technologies. IT and technology companies and global capability centres account for most of its enquiries, alongside companies in BFSI, consulting and startups. The partnerships are evolving, too. Providers are bundling gym access with app-based classes, personal training, fitness challenges and participation reports for HR teams. Companies, meanwhile, are using step challenges, running events, yoga sessions and sports tournaments to encourage participation.

India Inc is also building on these partnerships with fitness initiatives of its own.

At P&G, employees have access to an office gym, sports facilities at manufacturing sites, fitness and physiotherapy reimbursements, and an annual well-being programme that includes health checks and specialist consultations.

"Our people are our most valued asset, and their wellbeing is central to how we design work and shape our culture," said Robin Thadathil, CHRO of Procter & Gamble India.

InMobi offers employees fully equipped campus gyms and personal trainers, subsidised access to Cult.fit and HealthifyMe, and employee-led yoga and Zumba sessions.

"We recognise that well-being is deeply personal, so we focus on providing a rich, accessible ecosystem rather than a one-size-fits-all prescription," said Shefali Rai, CHRO of InMobi and Glance.

Walmart Global Tech India offers associates an annual fitness reimbursement of ₹25,000, alongside sports rooms, wellness events and on-campus activities.