The Hindu Business Line : Like tornadoes, inflation can suck in your savings real fast

Story so far: Best part of work, I'd say, is to spend a few minutes at my new office gym. As if by magic, weight of routine vanishes after even a brief workout, I've found. But many of my colleagues find little time to step in for sweating it out. Is it work pressure that holds them back or is it lack of awareness of what's good for health, I wonder? Perhaps such people constitute the majority, which is why many organisations don't provide such a facility for employees.

Episode 90

Rathore is the new star in an otherwise bleak horizon. That he belongs to the Defence rather than any commercial enterprise makes him the ideal icon for a nation to idolise. During the week I was not too unhappy with the valiant attempts by our sportspersons.

There is some disappointment that PwC had predicted ten medals for India. While I'm worried that we haven't got that many medals, I'm more concerned that an accounting firm made a prediction that turned out to be wrong so soon. I understand that the firm's assessment was based on population, per capita income, GDP growth and past performance.

Perhaps, there are areas that accountants can keep away from.

Last week, I'd raised the issue of spending time on exerciser and treadmills, in addition to clicking the mouse and moving files. "Dear Swati," writes Radhakrishnan. "There is a saying that a person who complains of lack of time is the worst user of time. When the likes of Ambani, Narayana Murthy can exercise for half an hour, we cannot escape citing lack of time." That's good to start with!

"As you have rightly pointed out, many take up exercise on medical advice only. We fail to realise that exercise not only keeps our body fit but also the mind. If Viswanathan Anand exercises for more than four hours a day for a mind game, it is precisely to keep his mind fresh. Therefore if people start to realise that exercise of body keeps the mind also in good condition then lot of people will start the daily routine." Workout goes beyond the body, I agree.

"Well the recent trend of setting up a gymnasium and other recreation facilities at workplace has been started by software companies. One, they can afford; and two, their employees can take a break in between work. But employees in other sectors, say, manufacturing or service, can't take a break in between work or even dream of flexible working hours. However, big companies such as IOC, ONGC, RIL and so on, that is, other than software companies, do provide recreation facilities at their townships." A luxury available only in mega corporates?

"We can't downright say that companies are not interested in providing such facilities. They have realised that providing such facilities not only keeps their employees fit, but also act as a motivation for retention. Companies that don't provide can be classified as small or not making money. Well I am already drawing a lot of flak from my wife for spending long hours at office. If I am going to stay another one hour at office gym then I can't live in peace, but in pieces only." Oh, I never thought of this dangerous dimension!

"Dear Swati, besides talking about facing the FTA, any company should have good men with them to work in tough times," reads a mail from Subramanian.

"As rightly said, tough times won't last but tough people do, and so employees should be ready to face difficulties. In most of today's companies, job security is not guaranteed for the simple reason that plenty of manpower is available. My colleagues and I have been informed by the management many times that, `if you want to work withstanding this undue pressure, work, or else keep walking away. There are thousands waiting there outside to work at one tenth of your salary'." Sounds terrible.

"Besides, even if I achieve or lose the July target marginally, I don't get a pat or even appreciation from my boss or management. But on August 1, I am asked to achieve a new frame of targets. No one even cares about the last month's splendid performance, besides my working for the company right from 8 in the morning till 8 or 9 in the evening. The management never asks me how I feel about work or if I needed a week's rest in Kodai or Ooty (which the company can sponsor). You may wonder why I should still work with them although I have such huge complaints." True, I wonder so.

"This is how most of the low level and supervisory category feel. Such being the case, I agree that `What's more disheartening is that many companies don't even think of providing such a facility for their staff'." Most jobs may be little different from slavery, looks like.

"Hi Swati," is a bubbling mail from Srikanth. "In your column you stated `what a formidable combination, engineering with economics!' You know the importance of that combination? Please suggest where I should place myself with that combination?" Now it appears that getting a placement may be more formidable!

"Thank you for showing concern for workaholics," writes Thanga Velu. "Only now our companies are taking part in the globalisation process. All along employers have been thinking only about their survival. Now that they are free to breathe, they will focus on the welfare of the employees by providing them with counselling, gym facilities and so on, to keep them fit mentally and physically too. The new generation employees also look more for fringe benefits such as gym, sports facilities and other welfare measures available in the organization, beyond pay, when they decide to switch from existing jobs."

A measure to retain employees, in short. "Many staff members are not aware that any one, of any age, can use gym facilities. An instructor should be appointed at the initial stages to help and guide the employees in doing appropriate exercise, which will be apt for their physique and age. Otherwise it is counter productive. Moreover, tell me Swati how many employees have time to attend gym every day in the absence of adequate spare time. We spend most of our spare time in commuting; if just married they rush back to see the new wife. Persons who have celebrated their 5th or 10th wedding anniversaries have to drop their children and pick them up from school daily." As such, I'm free from those commitments!

"Unfortunately very few are aware that with good exercise you can avoid 75 per cent of the diseases which may attack us at any time. A healthy body gives us a healthy mind, which helps us to function effectively and efficiently every day in office as well as outside too. Hope the youngsters and the middle-aged people spare some time daily to keep their body fit. Employers also must spend some money towards installation of gym facilities in the office for the welfare of their employees. I envy you Swati. You are blessed with many facilities; I think your boss is a perfect gentleman." I agree. Yet, you'd be surprised that I do come across a few colleagues of mine who are all the time complaining about one thing or the other.

"Dear Swati, I thoroughly enjoy reading your column. And I must also add that I always wait eagerly for the next one as soon as I finish reading the current one," writes Vasanthi Murugeson. Oh, thanks! "You are a professional with a sense of humour. You write with such wit, charm and intelligence. And you also make us think.

It's been a long time since I wanted to write to you but you know it just didn't happen. How do you find time to write amongst your busy schedule? How did such a thought of writing a column appeal to you? Guess you must be reading a lot apart from your professional stuff? How long have you been writing? Sorry I'm asking too many questions. Take your time." For the four questions, here're my answers, Vasanthi: squeeze in; just like that; yes, I do; and last, how long, say about three years.

"Dear Swati, bringing a fitness culture at workplace is definitely welcome, more so because of the lack of good and affordable gyms, and good playgrounds in the vicinity," writes Ravichander. "This initiative should be extended further to incorporate facilities for team sports — volleyball, table tennis, and so on, which foster team spirit, leadership qualities, and commitment. Some companies, especially the MNCs, have a gym dedicated to their employees, but for a smaller budget company the cost could be prohibitive.

"Gym or playtime is an effective way to break away from monotony at work and, at the same time, you make some investment on your fitness. A win-win situation: the employee benefits from good health and the company from improved productivity and increased man-hours. The only hindrance is: do we have time to go there? Given the 8 to 5 and beyond work hours, at some places 6+ days a week of hectic schedule, and family commitments, where is the time and energy to go there? Sounds pessimistic, but that's reality. There is need also for flexible and reduced work hours, so that one can find some time for such indulgences. No amount of incentive is going to help if one treats the employees no better than a bull." Quite realistic.

"Dear Swati, is there really a squeeze of time for workouts for today's professionals?" asks Anil Kumar Pillai. "It's all a matter of time management and setting priorities. Twenty-four hours is a short time if we attempt to do everything. If we value health, then doing exercise matters and that should be one of our top priorities. Else, one will not be able to enjoy the goodies of life. Even in professional life many companies want their employees to act fast and be productive. Even before thirties we find most of them are either obese or victims of depression and tiredness.

"As pointed out by you, even five minutes of workout can be refreshing. Just imagine if a regular exercise regimen of an hour becomes a priority for each one of us. We will have a society wherein young people will be active; there will be lower incidences of high cholesterol, heart attacks and strokes. Many reports suggest that such ailments are common amongst the mid-level executives who are in their thirties. This is due to their sedentary lifestyle.

The question whether companies provides such amenities for workouts does not arise. If maintaining health is important, one can become a member of a health club, gymnasium, swimming club or badminton club.

Even smaller towns boast of such facilities. There are clubs that suit every budget. If we can spend 10 per cent of our annual income on medical bills can't we at least spend 3-5 per cent of our annual income on such amenities which can boost our and our families' health?

"Else, we will still hear increasing reports of young executives collapsing while running to catch a train or flight at the last minute. Let's give our health priority and not neglect it. Our body will neglect us, otherwise." Merits serious thought.

"Hi Swati, it's not that one wants to wait for a medical prescription to start exercising but one has generally taken one's health for granted till one is hit by something like diabetes, hypertension or any other stress-related disease," writes Mamata Hardikar.

"One procrastinates till one `thinks' one has a choice to opt out of it. Regular exercising has more to do with how much one respects oneself that one wants to keep fit and in shape, rather than with being fitness freaks. It is also true that given the number of hours that one ends up spending in office, or commuting back and forth, and on infinite daily chores, there is not much time and inclination left to go to a gym to exercise; or it is much lower on one's priority list.

"If companies provided such facilities at the workplace, it would give no room for some of the `excuses' and force one to exercise, which then will help in one's overall well-being." That would be a workable compromise, with a gym not far from the desk.

********

Inflation has been in the news for so long that I've been seeing it in nightmares as a frightful demon, spewing out fire that burnt one's wallet. So, on Saturday morning, when I went to the neighbourhood market, it was shocking to find vegetables and fruits being sold at such high prices, with vendors quoting rates for 250 gm rather than shock customers with rates per kilo.

One shopkeeper told me how it was so expensive transporting goods to the market, how he has to spend more on getting helpers and, in general, explaining how he was getting hit by price rises from all sides.

Not far from me was a retired person whom I knew as from a neighbouring block; he was buying things out of his pension money. He said, "Swati, how I wish I'd never grown old!" I asked, "Why, uncle?" He said, "We earn less on our savings, but have to cough up more for medicare and daily necessities. Life is tough."

Is inflation getting out of our hands, I wondered? Send in your thoughts by Friday.

Swati_CA@hotmail.com

For archived episodes of this column click on: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/nic/swati/index.htm

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