Gearing up to retain the title of the most active company around the globe, Nestle has made it mandatory for its employees to keep fit and walk. Less than half of its workforce will now be walking 14,000 steps daily for 120 days. The company had won the title last year when 900 companies had contested the Global Corporate Challenge.

The competition will have 800 companies contesting this year and they will have to walk around the world in 125 days – virtually. Each contestant will have to walk 10,000 steps daily. The steps will be counted on a pedometer and the record saved on a website. Nestle UK is entering the contest with an overwhelming 225 teams.

The company’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Grimwood opines that one always says that companies should be more active and smarter in their output. However, since good output is directly related to the employees’ health, the company wants its staff to take care of their fitness. He says that they have almost quit their comfortable chairs and have taken up walking. Grimwood himself has set an example by being the first to do so.

His team is following his lead by having their daily conferences while on the trot, running up the stairs while avoiding elevators, and requesting their patrons to join them for a walk instead of going to the restaurant. If you’re responsible for health and safety in your organisation, click on CPP training, to learn about the importance of promoting a positive health and safety culture in your workplace environment.

Dr, David Batman, Nestlé’s health chief reveals that walking has been made an official requirement in the company and they are effectively compensating the employees monetarily for it. He believes that such welfare schemes are the need of the hour when most companies are cutting back on them due to the economic downturn.