Bharti AXA focuses on employee health, launches Stepathon 90-day Challenge

In a move to use health as an engagement lever for its employees, Bharti AXA launched the Bharti AXA Stepathon Challenge. It is a 90-day challenge wherein people have to walk one million steps. It started on November 1 and will continue till January 31.

Employees who are able to complete the challenge, will be named stepmasters. The in-house app keeps a track of the progress of each participating employee. The winners have a chance to win a cash prize between Rs 1000 -10,000 and a plaque acknowledging their feat. Already 65 per cent of the employees have participated in this exercise.

“It’s not just about building careers. It’s about offering an employment proposition that encompasses holistic development with career and health.”

Speaking about the initiative, Paramjit Nayyar, CHRO, Bharti AXA General Insurance, told HR Katha, “It’s not just about building careers. It’s about offering an employment proposition that encompasses holistic development with career and health. As a part of this larger initiative, we felt that we need to launch something that will bring health into core focus. The overall ecosystem of work has changed now. There’s a level of stress, isolation and anxiety because employees can’t meet people or interact with them face-to-face. The mind then harbours negative thoughts.”

Nayyar also believes the activity has changed the quality of conversations. It starts healthy and constructive conversations rather than talking about stress. The focus on health has grown. Given the positive response the initiative has received, the organisation is planning to make it a once-a year exercise.