JAKARTA. While other office workers are trapped in traffic after working hours, Antonius Pandu, a 31-year-old assistant of a brand manager in consumer goods giant PT Unilever Indonesia, opts to enjoy a salsa dance in his office.
“I have been practicing salsa for four years,” he said while moving his hips and feet, following the rhythm of the Latin music.
Antonius said he was thrilled when he found out that his current employer provided free salsa dance classes in his office building, saying that he could finally continue a hobby he started in college.
“Practicing salsa not only refreshes my body, but also my mind,” he said.
Antonius said that besides practicing salsa, he also goes to a gym once a week. “It becomes easy to exercise as all the facilities are provided just above my office and they are for free,” he said.
Besides a gymnasium that offers various classes, like in salsa, zumba and body pump, Unilever also has various other health facilities, including sports massages, funds for sports, hobby or art clubs, vaccines for the employees and family members and a nursing room.
Human resource departments in some companies believe that providing health facilities and creating policies that encourage healthy lifestyles will not only benefit the office workers who are prone to stress and illness, but also the companies.
Desmarita Murni, communications director at the online petition site, change.org, said her company decided two months ago to cater healthy foods that offered less salt and oil for the employees, as it realized that bad eating habits made them prone to sickness.
“We realized that we often eat late when we are busy and we usually ordered unhealthy food like gorengan [fried snacks],” she said.
Desmarita said change.org also gives five weeks of annual leave to make sure that the employees get enough rest and vacation.
Unilever corporate communication head Maria Dewantini Dwianto said her company management considers human resources as an important asset.
“Convalescing people need more time and money, so it is better to prevent the disease,” she said.
Some other companies have unique ways to pay attention to employees who are attached to their computers. (Corry Elyda)
Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah
SUMBER: THE JAKARTA POST
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