A Chinese tech firm was witness to its workforce losing at least 950 kg, collectively. How? It offered to reward its employees Rs 5,000 for every half a kilogram of weight they lost.
Of course this financial reward has served as a big motivator for the employees to take up the weight loss challenge and prioritise their health and fitness. One employee ended up receiving Rs 2.47 lakh for having lost 20 kilograms in three months by following a disciplined diet and regular exercise.
Under this annual challenge, the company not only rewards those who shed weight but also imposes a penalty on those who gain, requiring them to return a specific amount for every half a kilogram regained.
This year almost 100 employees participated and the company shelled out almost Rs 1 crore in rewards or incentives.
The Shenzhen-based firm, Ista360’s strategy has been lauded for killing two birds with one stone. The employees are motivated to focus on their personal health as they are getting paid for it, and they are also building a good and healthy competitive spirit in the process.
As a nation, China has increased its focus on health with the country’s National Health Commission and other governmental departments embarking on a weight-management campaign that began in 2024. The objective of the three-year campaign is to decrease obesity and ensure a healthier population.
In August 2021, Zerodha, the Indian financial-services firm had also run a similar campaign to help its employees achieve their health goals. The company had offered a month’s salary as bonus to employees who succeeded.
