A company that I know of wanted to convert the extra space within one of its facilities into an in-office daycare or an in-office gym. They put it to vote; the majority voted for a gym and gym it was. When I first heard about it, I was appalled at how daycare and gym can be comparable alternatives.
Every working parent with young children knows the challenges of balancing work and family, especially when the kids are too young. Not all physical and emotional needs of a child can be outsourced, and many women drop out of the workforce to tend to their little ones. Having in-office daycare would have been a boon to parents and kids. The knowledge that the children are close will relieve stress, enable them to work better, and enhance their productivity.
The gym is great for employee fitness. But, isn’t walking up to a nearby gym even better for fitness? Why does the company want to keep the employees within its premises post working hours?
The gym is certainly not critical enough a need to compete with daycare for office space. The HR did not think that through and gave a choice. The employees voted their decision thereby reflecting the majority employee demographics and mindset in that office.
And then they run campaigns about work culture, gender equality, and diversity.
Originally published at https://autholish.com on October 23, 2019.
