TeamLease sees a big surge in demand for nutritionists and dieticians from corporate companies and industrial houses in the country. This is on account of the fact that employers are keeping close tab on employees health. The hiring pattern varies from each company. Larger enterprises employ three full time and around 6 part time nutritionists and dieticians.

Companies have created a pool of wellness officials armed with required qualification and experience as nutrition-diet advisors. This team is as an extended entity of the human resources department of organisations. TeamLease has estimated a 20 per cent increase in demand for nutritionists and dieticians over the next two years for corporate and industrial houses.

“The objective of hiring dedicated team is driven by the need to maintain good physical and mental health of the employees. This would increase employee productivity and a create a platform for long term engagement with him. Indirectly, the health concerns shown by companies creates an empathy factor leading to employee retention,” Sudeep Sen, assistant vice president, TeamLease told Pharmabiz.

Hectic schedules, stress at work and home lead to lethargy. There is an alarming incidence of lifestyle disorders and its serious complication which impacts an employee’s productivity. In fact, medical practitioners are concerned about the frequent migraine attacks, incidence of thyroid dysfunction and high blood sugar levels reported among the younger working population. Such health issues were reported only among the above 50-year olds a decade ago, noted TeamLease.

“Access to unhealthy food and long working hours are identified as the main culprits. Now companies have taken a clear-cut decision to team-up with gyms and wellness centres which advice on exercise and therapy. Going a step further, they are now hiring nutritionists- dieticians, investing in gyms and weekend wellness packages,” he added.

There is a visible need to provide employees specific diets packed with right nutrition combined with an exercise regime to maintain his mental and physical well being. Such a situation creates need to consider a team of nutritionists-dieticians in companies, said Sen.

Monitoring dietary habits of employees and maintaining details on the health parameters every quarter is seen to be mandated. There are instances where nutrition teams at the companies rope in employee’s family members to ensure that right eating is sustained at his home too, he stated.

Going by the considerable importance given to an individual’s personality, skin care services centres offering like anti ageing and hair re-growth partner with corporate houses. The aim to ensure convenient access to treatment.

The landscape of hiring has altered. “A couple of years ago, the job openings for IT, e-commerce, pharma and health professionals were a buzz. Now it is an age of nutritionists and dieticians that have taken on the centre stage for placement companies, noted Sen.