Come late but exercise, company tells staff

From shortening work hours to incentivising exercise, companies put staff’s health first

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No time and no motivation — these are the two most common excuses that people who don’t exercise make. But for others at some companies in Dubai, these excuses don’t carry weight.

The ongoing Dubai Fitness Challenge (DFC) encourages residents to do 30 minutes of physical activity daily, for 30 days. Organisers have pulled out all the stops to ensure residents have no excuse not to exercise, with five fitness villages being accessible to everyone.

Yet, some people still find ways not to sweat it out. And some employers have found ways to counter them.

Gulf News spoke to three companies that motivate their employees to take advantage of the month-long challenge.

One of them is Crowe, a global accounting and consulting firm, that is letting their staff in Dubai come to work half an hour late or leave half an hour early, to exercise.

“We told the staff, ‘If you can make a commitment to your health, we can make a commitment to you,” Zayd Maniar, international liaison partner at Crowe, told Gulf News.

More than 100 staff at the company are participating in ■ DFC. Among then is Lea Guimba, who said her once active lifestyle changed when she moved to Dubai. “I started to gain weight, my heart started to feel weak,” Guimba, 27, an auditor, said. “Through this initiative, I get a guaranteed 30 minutes each day for my workout [with a complimentary gym membership from the company],” she said. Maniar said even though the shortened work hours come at a cost to the firm, they don’t see it that way. “We’re investing in our people. Now, we’re seeing three things: increased productivity, much happier staff, and less sick leaves.”

Steps to good health

Incentivising staff to exercise is Godwin Austen Johnson’s strategy as well. Prizes are up for grabs for staff who do the most varied exercises and for the best snapshots of their daily activity, Elaine Nettleton, communications manager at the architecture firm, said. “The health and wellbeing of our employees is one of our core values,” Nettleton said. “We’re hoping that people will continue even after the challenge.”

Rewarding staff who work out is also Tristar’s strategy, in addition to their ‘Walk, Lose Weight and Be Healthy’ programme. Last year, using company-issued pedometers, they clocked 20,964,373 steps, equivalent to 15,240km, Art Los Banos, head of Tristar’s Recreation and Happiness Committee, said.

Among last year’s record makers is Arundhan Alphones, who lost 7.8 kilograms.

Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News Staff of Crowe Mak do different kinds of exercises as part of the Dubai Fitness Challenge. The company is letting their staff come in later or leave earlier to get in their daily workout.

Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News Companies are helping employees take advantage of the challenge through gym memberships and other incentives.