Healthier employees, better productivity: How this company raises the bar in staff wellness

Almost every day after work, Dr Zhang Taishi used to indulge in his favourite treat: an ice cream.

Now, after attending a health programme organised by his company, he limits himself to just one a week and orders kosong beverages without added sugar.

“In the past, I thought that sugar was okay at my age and that the associated health issues would always be someone else’s problem,” says the 37-year-old.

The senior system design manager at global technology solutions firm KLA became more aware of how his lifestyle choices would affect his physical health after he participated in the National Healthcare Group’s (NHG) Healthier Communities @ Workplaces initiative, a programme that KLA is part of.

Conducted over four months, the programme is led by a doctor, a group of dieticians and health coaches.

Through weekly follow-ups and reminders, Dr Zhang reduced his sugar consumption. 

Apart from offering standard medical benefits such as health insurance and annual medical check-ups, KLA is constantly looking for innovative ways to encourage its staff to lead healthier lifestyles.

In 2024, the global technology company worked with NHG to roll out a health programme to help its employees maintain or improve their health.

“Someone who feels good physically and mentally will perform way better at work than someone who isn’t. Employees also feel better when they do better at work. It benefits both the employer and employee,” says KLA Singapore country president Theo Kneepkens, who is also senior vice-president for Global Operations.

The inaugural initiative between KLA and NHG focused on sugar intake and initially involved employees from the managerial level and above to get them to lead by example.

Subsequent sessions will be open to staff at other levels. After making a commitment to eat healthier, participants also received weekly follow-up texts from an NHG “buddy”.

The programme also included a talk by a doctor where staff learnt how to make sense of food labels and choose healthier snacks.

Mr Kneepkens also benefited from the initiative. He reduced his alcohol consumption after learning that beers and wines will raise blood sugar levels significantly.

The 56-year-old has been with KLA for nearly two decades, starting his career in Singapore when he was tasked to set up manufacturing facilities in Asia.

“From the first day, I have been promoting a healthy lifestyle within the company.”

To him, a healthy employee is a happy employee.

He points out that while Singapore has a large pool of talented professionals, companies must do more than just recruit the right people. Equally important, he says, is retaining valuable employees and investing in their health and well-being.

Besides providing three in-house gyms, the company is also gradually replacing the drinks in its vending machines and beverage dispensers with low-sugar options, as well as sourcing healthier snacks.

A healthier workplace and home

This emphasis on well-being extends beyond the workplace. Employees’ families are not forgotten in this path towards better health, too. 

Mr Kneepkens says that in the past, the annual Family Day held in the KLA office focused mainly on staff with young children.

Now, there are more activities for employees and their families at different life stages.

“We would usually have bouncy castles in the office but in 2022, we brought our Family Day to the Singapore University of Technology and Design campus, which has facilities like a basketball court and a grass field. We had obstacle courses and tug-of-war matches, but of course, we still had the bouncy castle for the kids as we wanted a focus on fun as well as on sports.”

In early 2025, KLA distributed more than 1,300 wellness gifts. Staff got to choose from glucose, blood pressure or body composition monitors, sports vouchers, and even nerve stimulators to improve blood circulation and ease muscle aches. As these gifts can be shared among family members, KLA hopes to create a ripple effect to motivate its employees’ loved ones to also lead a healthier lifestyle. 

These efforts have all contributed to

KLA

being named as

one of Singapore’s best employers

, in a

survey conducted by global research firm Statista, in collaboration with The Straits Times

.

Outside of work, Mr Kneepkens, an avid runner and cyclist, signs up for marathons and cycling competitions like the OCBC Cycle, where KLA is a corporate participant and is often joined by his staff.

“This is a good way to bond as I meet employees whom I don’t typically engage with every day,” he says. “The KLA culture is about open communication in a flat hierarchy, and many people don’t get nervous talking to me.”

Besides keeping its staff physically well, KLA also looks out for their mental well-being.

Mr Kneepkens adds: “KLA’s revenue has grown for the past three years. While we are meeting our business objectives and daily deliverables, we also prioritise both the physical and mental well-being of our employees as a key focus.”

External experts are invited to give talks about stress management, but Mr Kneepkens says he is aware that those who need this most may not attend these sessions. Which is why managers are also taught how to spot “hidden stress signals” especially in staff who are overwhelmed but do not wish to speak up.

Mr Kneepkens adds that to be an employer of choice, a good salary cannot be the only way to retain talent. “The fact that we focus on our staff’s well-being is an additional benefit that differentiates KLA from the rest.”

To encourage colleagues to bond, teams receive a quarterly budget which they can spend on team-building activities.

Employees are also encouraged to start interest groups such as basketball or badminton. KLA currently has eight to 10 of these employee-initiated groups.

Through these avenues, Dr Zhang says he gets to learn about his co-workers’ interests and interact with them beyond the workplace.

He says: “Since I’m mostly desk-bound, my brain gets tired but not my body. Physical exercise helps me relax and complements my sedentary work life.”

Read more about Singapore’s Best Employers 2025