The Hindu Business Line : Turn the clock

Most BPO employees are unaware that as they work against their biological clock, eating the right food is very important. An invaluable rule: drink more water, less coffee.

We often hear about a `balanced diet' that's recommended to BPO and call centre employees, as they work against their biological clock. But are employees even aware of this, and if yes, what are they doing about it? Canvas found that not many were clear about the `right' diet. Some even wondered why there was all this fuss about the diet and the biological clock.

Jyothi Menon, Head - HR, Lason India, says, "I worked three years in an all-night call centre and the food provided was just normal, with no emphasis on extra salad or juice or whatever else." But many BPOs and call centres emphasise on a balanced diet. "Our dinner includes salads. On night shifts, we take a lot of fresh juices," says S. Ravinder, Senior Desk Engineer, Sutherland Technologies, Chennai.

At 24/7 Customer, Bangalore, employees are advised to take wholesome balanced food with a lot of fresh fruit/salads. "In fact, food is served to the employees in our cafeteria keeping in mind the need for a balanced diet to counter job-related stress," says Murali Swaminathan, Chief People's Officer.

Balanced meals — at least three a day — is what Nimmi Ittycheria John, a Chennai-based diet consultant, emphasises. "I would recommend traditional South Indian food — sambar, rasam, etc — without greasy items like papad. Or a simple North Indian meal that includes roti and dal, cooked with very little oil. Most important, eat vegetables at least twice a day and one whole fruit. Anti-oxidants are very vital," she adds.

"Snacking" should be avoided — especially foodstuff like puffs, samosas, pastries, chips, packaged biscuits, etc. She thinks the greatest harm to the health of BPO/call centre employees is caused by the urge to snack during work hours. Her suggestion: carry some fruit or even a handful of nuts like almonds or peanuts; eat them whenever you have the urge to snack.

She also cautions against excessive coffee intake. Most employees drink several cups of coffee during working hours just to stay awake. "It might work well momentarily, but is certainly harmful in the long run. Instead they can take a cup of warm milk," says Nimmi. Some companies also advise employees to drink a lot of water. "In an air-conditioned office, you won't feel thirsty. But you might get dehydrated easily," says Ravinder. Drink at least 1-2 litres of water when at work, insists Nimmi.

Another important requirement, especially for a call centre employee, is a good night's, or in this case, day's sleep. When sleep suffers, it might affect digestion and body metabolism in general. Catch at least 6-8 hours sleep every day, even if it's not at conventional timings, says Nimmi. "I need eight hours of sound sleep every day. A sound sleep is the key to a healthy life, irrespective of the occupation," says Ravinder.

Ravinder, however, concedes that irregular food habits do affect his fitness level. Nimmi has a simple solution — leave a gap of at least five hours between each meal. Irregular food habits can lead to obesity or other weight-related problems. It's essential to check your weight at least once a month, she adds.

Reserve at least 30 minutes every day for exercise. Otherwise, you'll gain weight, as Ravinder did. "Suddenly I realised I was adding a lot of flab... that's when I joined a gym. The problem is that I am not able to go even two or three days in a week, because of my changing work timings," he adds.

To make sure employees stay fit, some companies have engaged fitness experts at the premises. "We have a yoga instructor on board who not only conducts classes on our premises, but also at employees' homes, and submits a report periodically. He designs exercise programmes based on individual needs, diet and lifestyle changes," says Jyothi.

Anand Yoga, the yoga instructor at Lason India, recommends regular exercises — about 20 minutes at the workplace and an equal duration outside. Mornings are good for brisk exercise such as aerobics and some selective asanas that loosen the joints. And before you go to sleep, make sure you have a brief session of pranayama or breathing exercise.

Swaminathan of 24/7 says employees are encouraged to join aerobics programmes or gyms. The company has a tie-up with a gym, where employees can avail of facilities at a discount. Anand Yoga also stresses the importance of participatory games played in a group. This aids group cohesion, whether it's family or peer groups, and results in de-stressing. This is why companies include a team outing or two in their annual schedule. Says Jyothi of Lason India, "It's not even thought of as a de-stressing exercise, but one more tool to get together, get closer."

At 24/7, Swaminathan says employees are encouraged to socialise especially during weekends. At work, employees have impromptu events such as a birthday party during recess/breaks, music etc. The company also encourages regular team outings, which are budgeted and mandatory at least once a year.

Finally, how should call centre employees take care of their most important asset — their voice? Ravinder says he gargles with warm salted water every day, and uses palm sugar instead of refined sugar in his coffee. "My mother says palm sugar does wonders for the throat," he adds. Nimmi includes one more tip: Have warm milk with a little turmeric and pepper. After all, it's worth taking good care of your voice... it's a major asset at all call centres.

Picture by S. Mahinsha

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