Bengaluru IT sector losing $ 3.5 billion to sedentary lifestyle: Survey

A latest study in Bengaluru by Redseer Consulting has quantified the loss being caused to the IT sector due to employee's lifestyle habits. According to the survey, the city's IT sector is losing 24,000 crores annually due to bad lifestyle choices.

Sedentary lifestyle and stress have often been termed as the big devils of the corporate sector around the world. In an attempt to quantify the monetary loss caused by lifestyle-related problems in the IT sector in Bengaluru, a consulting firm in the city carried out a survey across ten Information Technology firms. The figures are astounding. 

According to the study, the 50 billion dollar IT industry of Bengaluru could be losing as much as 3.5 billion dollars or Rs 24000 crore due to employees health and lifestyle habits.

Of this, physical inactivity and emotional and mental health contribute to almost 50 per cent of the productivity loss.

''The biggest finding of the report is the contribution of 'emotional and mental health' to the loss of productivity. We believe that companies should take initiatives to help employees reduce mental stress through specific programs which will reflect in higher productivity,''  says Ujjwal Chaudhry, Associate Director of Redseer Consulting.  

Employees in the 30-40 age group were found to be contributing to 42 per cent of the productivity loss with health-related issues and those in the 20-30 age groups were found to be contributing to 30 per cent of the loss with poor diet, says Aruna Prasad, a city-based nutritionist.

Every second or third client that Prasad attends to is from the corporate sector.

''Most of these clients have issues because of the wrong lifestyle they have led all these years. But they assume that it is because age is catching up. Just becayse someone is 30, they need not have to have gut issues or put on weight.’ says Aruna. 

The respondents were analysed on five different parameters - Physical inactivity, Emotional and Mental Health, Physical Health, Poor diet and substance abuse.

25 per cent of the respondents were contributing to the productivity loss by physical inactivity, 23 per cent through emotional and mental health, 21 per cent through physical health, 18 per cent through poor diet and 13 per cent through substance abuse.

However, keeping note of the growing rate of obesity and sedentary lifestyle in the corporate sector, some companies have started incorporating measures. With in-house gyms, wellness centres, nutritionists and healthier eating options, companies are attempting to change the trend. 

''Physical Inactivity contributes to majority share of overall cost to IT industry resulting from productivity loss. We believe that there is an initial threshold among employees for physical activity and thus companies can partner with fitness players who can involve employees to reduce the threshold’, says Chaudhry. 

Fahad Khalid, an IT professional in the city, has managed to maintain a better work-life balance thanks to the facilities provided by his organisation. ‘We have our own in-house fitness centre. It makes it convenient for the employees to form a routine with the workout.
 They can go for yoga or kickboxing at any point during the day. There is also healthier food being provided in the cafeteria. We also have frequent sports challenges and competitions every month to motivate employees and better their productivity’ says Fahad.

While the survey in question was restricted to the Bengaluru IT sector, the same can probably be applied to employers across the board. 

Sedentary lifestyle might not just be costing employee health, but could be taking away a considerable chunk of productivity away from the companies.