Gardening, yoga turn mantra for corporate wellness

HYDERABAD: Until six months ago, city-based IT professional Ramesh K was on the verge of a physical and mental breakdown due to huge work pressure. Things, however, changed for the 35-year-old after he attended a 45-minute gardening workshop organized by the firm where he is employed.
"I never thought nurturing plants could have a soothing effect on me. Now every day, I spend half an hour gardening and somehow that has impacted my mental well-being.I feel much more positive than six months ago," said Ramesh.
With stress levels and lifestyle diseases among young corporate professionals on a steady rise, many city firms are now chalking out their own in-house health programme to ensure their employees stay fit despite the chaotic demands of work. Innovative workshops such as martial arts, outdoor activities involving sports or workshops on cooking are regularly being designed by companies in a bid to maintain corporate wellness.
For instance, the 'well@dell' programme adopted by the Hyderabad office of the computer technology corporation Dell. As part of the initiative, employees are trained on fitness techniques, encouraged to participate in outdoor games and develop hobbies such as gardening. Fitness challenges are also held among employees as an incentive to stay healthy and fit.
"The key to a healthy organization is the health of its employees. Through such initiatives, employees are encouraged to maintain a professional and personal well being. Everyone should be inspired to maintain a health conscious attitude for themselves," said Zeena Fruitwala, an employee at Dell.
To relieve employees of mental stress, IT company Cognizant has promoted internal laughter clubs and regularly organizes treks, yoga and exercise workshops for its employees.
City based firm eHealth access, which provides healthcare solutions to other companies, has ensured that their own employees have equal health benefits. The firm arranges for regular health check-ups for their 8,000 odd employees and gives them access to 600 doctors across the country. Personal counselling forms an important part of eHealth's initiative.
"Many employees have personal issues which are bothering them but they are not able to discuss them due to lack of time and opportunity. Mental counselling forms an equally important part of health check-ups," said Jayapal Reddy, CEO of the firm.
Reddy added that an increasing number of companies are demanding health check-ups at offices for their employees since they are not able to take the time out to visit clinics. "Most people keep postponing their appointments due to work pressure. Realizing the importance of regular check-ups, employers are now holding screening programmes in office premises itself," he said.
Not wanting to have a fatigued and unhealthy working staff, employers are willing to invest in such health programmes. "There should be a culture of good health in the organization," said Sudhanshu Pandit, VP (human resources), Symantec Corporation, which provides dental benefits, gym memberships and other such medical benefits to its employees.
"We assist employees to make lifestyle changes to minimize health risks, improve consumer health skills, improve their ability to make informed health care decisions, and enhance individual productivity and well-being," Pandit said.