Beginning the day with workouts to keep staff healthy

EVERY weekday morning in an Orchard Road tower block, dozens of people clad in business attire stream out of the lift, tap into work at a fingerprint reader and head straight in, just in time to begin a round of workouts en masse at 8.30 am sharp.

The office has no receptionist. In the middle of the lobby stands the top boss, whose job includes leading the exercises. For about 20 to 25 minutes, they all engage in activities ranging from qigong, squats, stretches and yoga to "brain gym", says Adeline Sim, executive director and general counsel at recruitment firm HRnetGroup, which last week launched an initial public offering (IPO) to list on Singapore Exchange's mainboard.

This "daily wellness exercise" may sound like a scene right out of corporate Japan, or something more associated with New Age athleisure brands that have built their empires on the supposed health benefits of juiced kale and headstands.