A senior corporate leader has issued a sharp critique of workplace wellness initiatives in India, stating that nearly 90% of corporations treat them as a superficial checklist with little genuine concern for employee health. The remarks were made at a major health summit in Hyderabad, which spotlighted the growing crisis of obesity and metabolic disorders.
Token Initiatives and a Lack of Empathy
Sandeep Patnaik, the Managing Director of real estate giant JLL, did not mince words while addressing the Gut & Metabolic Summit 2025 at AIG Hospitals in Gachibowli, Hyderabad. He accused Indian corporate culture of adopting a shallow approach to employee well-being.
"Empathy is often missing at workplaces, even when employees fall ill," Patnaik said. He questioned whether immediate managers even bother to ask what happened when a team member is unwell. According to him, most wellness programs are reduced to token efforts like '10,000 steps challenges', launched merely because the human resources department has been instructed by top management. "It's a sham. Indian corporates need to act far more responsibly," he asserted.
From Cubicles to Wellness-Centric Design
While Patnaik highlighted the problem, other speakers pointed to evolving solutions. Satyanarayana Mathla, President of the Telangana Facilities Management Council (TFMC), noted a significant shift in how companies think about office spaces.
"Twenty years ago, wellness accounted for barely 5% of how we thought about buildings. Today, it is closer to 80%," Mathla revealed. He explained that modern offices are increasingly designed with natural light, superior ventilation, open-air zones, standing desks, and layouts that encourage movement.
"We are moving away from cubicles to wellness spaces. There are stand-up zones, multiple movement zones for every 10 workstations, and a push to encourage employees to walk more during the workday," he said, emphasizing the importance of continuous employee feedback in this transition.
Policy Gaps and Sector-Specific Health Crises
The summit also connected workplace health to broader policy and public health challenges. Experts highlighted that traffic congestion, pollution, and long commutes make flexible working hours crucial for metabolic health.
The crisis is stark even among frontline workers. Stephen Raveendra, IPS, Commissioner of Civil Supplies, disclosed that nearly 40% of the Telangana police force is not in good health. "Metabolic illness is directly linked to operational efficiency and readiness," he said, citing constant exposure to stress, irregular shifts, and long hours leading to cardiac and respiratory issues. The department is now placing greater emphasis on physical and mental wellness.
At the national policy level, Uma Chigurupati, Executive Director of Granules India, argued that tackling the metabolic crisis requires rethinking India's Public Distribution System (PDS). She pointed out that government rations need adequate protein, fibre, and healthy fats, moving beyond the current focus on rice.
Chigurupati shared a successful pilot in Vikarabad, where decentralising the PDS by sourcing millets from local farmers and distributing them through fair price shops and mid-day meal schemes showed positive results. "A small tweak in government policy can impact millions," she concluded, underscoring the link between food policy and national health.
