Pepsico is putting pep into its employees

Press, 9 June 1982, Page 21

Pepsico is putting pep into its employees

By

PETER DURISCH

Strange things are happening during the working days of the 1500 employees at the headquarters of the giant Pepsico soft drinks corporation just north of New York City.

For perhaps 30 minutes at a time, staff mysteriously disappear from their desks. They usually return mentally alert, skin somewhat flushed, and eyes sparkling. These people are engaged in physical frolics in company time and with company approval. But these are no't traditional office frolics — which have been known to lead to the divorce courts — but a scientific programme of exercise. The staff's dates are with medicine balls, space age machinery, and other wholesome items. "We don't time somebody going to the bathroom so why should we time somebody going to the gym?" asks Dr Dennis Colacino, the company’s fitness director. "We are perfectly happy that people work out in paid time. If people are mature individuals, we find that they don’t abuse it." The headquarters staff at Pepsico are in reality guinea pigs. When Dr Colacino is satisfied that the programme is sufficiently refined it will be extended to the company’s 100,000 employees across the United States. The scheme — which is voluntary — is Pepsico's response to the employee fitness and health craze now sweeping through major American companies. Gone are the days of the overweight. sedentary, executive for whom a few short and hasty paces could mean a great step towards a coronary attack. The modem executive is most likely to be spotted by his bulging biceps, pleasing pectorals, and trim tummy.

New employees at Pepsico are invited to submit to an extensive assessment programme. First, they are screened medically and tested for physical fitness. Body chemistry is analysed and wayward activities such as smoking and drinking are assessed. Further examina-

tions and interviews deal with emotional stress and factors such as marital difficulties.

This data is fed into a computer which then prints out an individual "prescription” for each worker. His progress is monitored by the computer throughout his career. "This -programme, including the cost of the facilities, probably works out at about

$2OO per person annually." says Dr Colacino. “But it’s part of our working day. part of our lifestyle here. 'About two-thirds of our employees are now in the programme." Dr Colacino is also president of the American Association of Fitness Directors in Business and Industry whose membership has grown from 25 to 2200 in the past six years. "The really big growth has come in the last three

years," he says. "People are becoming more and more aware that fitness — not just physical fitness — makes for better employees and a better company.” An estimated 20 million Americans now jog as part of their keep-fit programmes but some experts say that jogging, while useful, has severe limitations. In particular. it gives little exercise to the upper torso which is usually in a poor state of repair among office workers. The facilities now offered by many major corporations aim to exercise the whole body. Many such gymnasiums are lavish, not to say wildly extravagant Smaller companies achieve the same end by subsidising subscriptions for their employees at nearby clubs where again the latest techniques and equipment are in evidence.

Typical is the $9 million Sporting Club near McLean, Virginia, which boasts 20 racketball courts, squash, basketball, volleyball and badminton courts, a sevenlane swimming pool, saunas, steam rooms, massage, Jacuzzi whirlpools, and a nursery. Subscription is a $450 joining fee and then $75 a month. Copyright — London Observer Service,