The general health of employees is not usually thought of as the responsibility of the employer. But today more and more companies are turning this theory on its head and putting the well-being of their staff high on the agenda.
This approach, many hope, will increase productivity, alleviate staff sickies and create a better atmosphere in the work place.
One company leading the way in the UAE is Dubai Holding, which has just completed a year-long corporate wellness programme. Led from the top by the chairman of the company's various entities and piloted at its headquarters in Emirates Towers, the scheme is now ready to be rolled out to its 18,000 staff.
Cedric Betis, Dubai Holding's Corporate Wellness Manager, tells Emirates Business about the project and its success so far.
What are the benefits of a corporate wellness programme?
A study by Motorola, which spends $6million (Dh22m) a year on such initiatives showed that for every dollar they were spending on the programme they were getting $3.67 back. So there are huge financial benefits. In America the programmes focus on production rates and reducing medical care bills. In northern Europe, it's alcohol dependence and in South Africa, it's HIV. Here in the UAE it is obesity and diabetes, which need to be looked at.
What have you done in order to encourage staff to become healthier?
We have had a weight-loss challenge and it has been extremely successful. Twenty-three employees lost 108kg in eight weeks and others lost weight following the diet. So as a company we are 150kg lighter. We have also introduced healthy options in the office and are in the process of setting up gyms.
How does the programme work?
It is a multi-discipline programme, which covers stress management, physical activity and dietary improvement. We provide educational literature conducive to helping staff's approach to life and conduct wellness seminars. These provide staff in all our offices with tips on how and where they can do physical exercise and the best way to keep healthy.
What is different about Dubai Holding's Corporate Wellness Programme?
The programme is very different from other schemes as senior executives have been on extensive wellness programme courses. They are leading by example and genuinely want a healthier workforce.
It's not just about productivity or cutting absenteeism. It's about tackling a much wider problem the country is facing with obesity.
What results have you had?
The programme has created a lot of strengthened relationships among employees. Due to the weight-loss challenge people have been talking about it to colleagues they have not spoken to before. We have seen a drop in absenteeism and a rise in the level of productivity across all sectors.