Keeping our employees healthy and productive is a top priority. Our policy is to make it easier for employees to keep fit by offering facilities and programs that they can take advantage of while at work. We take measures to ensure a safe and healthy working environment, including an ergonomically correct workspace.

Onsite Fitness Centers

Since 1995, Cisco has offered onsite fitness centers along with a variety of health education, sports and recreation, fitness classes, and special programs to employees at our San Jose, California, headquarters. Our San Jose Fitness Center presently has approximately 17,000 members. This represents 77 percent of the San Jose campus headcount, a 27 percent increase over the last fiscal year. On average, the fitness centers host 950 participants a day. Onsite fitness centers are also located in Cisco offices in Bangalore, India; Bedfont Lakes, United Kingdom; Boxborough, Massachusetts; Kanata, Ontario; and Research Triangle Park, North Carolina.

The fitness centers are staffed at all times and are equipped with cardiovascular and strength-training equipment, stretching areas, and group exercise rooms. California-based employees located outside of San Jose who do not have access to an onsite fitness center can join one of a network of fitness facilities offering discounted memberships.

Cisco partners with a fitness and wellness management company, TimeOut Services, to provide a management team that is highly qualified and trained in health promotion, kinesiology, exercise physiology, recreation, and fitness management. The staff develops and implements an annual program of innovative and zero-cost/cost-effective programs designed to assist employees in integrating physical activity into their lives.

One of the most successful of these programs is group fitness classes. As part of our objective to increase employees’ physical activity in FY08, Cisco implemented subsidized monthly group exercise passes that have resulted in a 30-percent increase in participants. More than 660 classes are offered per quarter involving some 6200 employees. The class offerings include yoga, Pilates, karate, tai chi, indoor cycling, Latin aerobics, salsa, Indian dance, and step. One participant said of the program, “I love the flexibility to join any class. The instructors I have had so far are all very helpful.  No intimidation, no arrogance, just a genuine desire to help others and see them be successful.”

Personal training is another highlight of the Cisco Fitness Centers. Personal training sessions begin with an interview and goal-setting assessment with a certified training specialist. Trainers then design a personalized program to continuously challenge the employee and help ensure that fitness goals are met. 

Ergonomic Evaluations

We have implemented an online ergonomic questionnaire to help employees review the way they use their computer, how their work area is set up, and how their workspace is organized. Based on their answers, the program provides specific, personalized recommendations that can help them reduce stress and the chance of injury. For example, the employee may receive a report on how to make workstation changes to avoid neck and back strain or repetitive-motion stress. Employees can order equipment and request desk modifications according to their ergonomic needs.