Archive for December, 2009
In our busy lives in the management world, sometimes sleep deprivation is an unwanted by product of the job. The long hours, the stress, taking work home instead of unwinding and getting away from work can all play a part in our not getting enough sleep. The cost to businesses of employees falling asleep or losing concentration on the job can be enourmous. These costs can include increased errors and accidents, increased absenteeism, increased drug use, higher group insurance premium and decreased productivity. Not exactly good for the bottom line is it? However, there are some progressive companies out there who are taking this matter very seriously and tackling the problem head on.
They are allowing their employees to have a nap at work if they feel they need it. Some are even going to the lengths of letting them have a bed in their office. Personally I prefer a sofa large enough to stretch out on. 
Here’s a simple management tip that worked for me in this situation. Some days I used to find that I started to drift off looking at a computer monitor all day so what I did was I went down to my car, got in, locked the doors and had a small power nap for fifteen minutes or so. It was amazing how much better I felt after wards. Much more alert and positive. Can you imaging if your whole workforce was like that? Remember though that napping at work is a little different from sleeping on the job. If everyone were to slump in their chairs, heads back, mouths open and snoring loudly, it wouldn’t be a good look would it? What I’m talking about is a quick power nap if they feel they need it. Some companies have a room set aside for their employees to go in if they feel they need to unwind for a bit. It sounds like a very lazy thing to do but because of our lifestyles and stress, we all get like that from time to time. Not many of us get the recommended eight hours of sleep every night for one reason or another.
However, there would need to be a shift in the organizational culture for this to ever work. Employees should never be penalized for doing this if your company decides to go down this progressive road. There is no need to go out and develop a company policy on the napping do’s and don’ts but what needs to happen is to remove the stigma that can often be attached to napping at work. We have all heard the jokes and taunts I’m sure when we see a colleague at work who looks like he’s about to fall asleep at his desk.
If you are having issues with some staff who seem not to get enough sleep for whatever reason, obviously part of your role as a manager is to address that with them and see if you can’t be of any assistance in solving the problem. Sleep deprivation is a serious thing both for the person and the company they work for. Allowing your employees to have a small power nap could just be the key to get your productivity up and the workplace negativity down. Have a think about it or better yet, sleep on it.
In our busy lives in the management world, sometimes sleep deprivation is an unwanted by product of the job. Here’s a novel idea some companies are trying out.
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