27 Feb Oh, s-NAP!

Have you ever taken a quick 10-minute nap at work? Did you feel guilty about it or worry that you’d get caught? Or are you lucky enough to have an employer that encourages these small breaks in order to invigorate and recharge your body?

According to an article on The Huffington Post titled, “Sleeping At Work And Nap Rooms Go Hand-In-Hand,” the author says that employees who walk around looking tired and drained should be looked down on rather than those who take an occasional nap.

Of course, in an ideal world we’d all get plenty of sleep before starting the day. In the real world, however, that simply doesn’t happen. Add in the pressures of work and naps can become a necessity. Employees often use their lunch hour to grab a few quick Z’s, yet that may not be the best time to take a nap depending on what a person’s body is feeling.

Any manager can tell you that an employee who’s tired will not produce the best work. And any employee can tell you that by not producing his or her best work will often result in more sleepless nights worrying about what their supervisor will think.

A “power nap,” as they’re often called, has been shown to boost memory and productivity. This is why several large companies, including Google, Zappos, Ben & Jerry’s and The Huffington Post, provide employee nap rooms and encourage their use.

Employers should be flexible enough to consider the benefits of workday naps and may even want to institute a nap room program on a trial basis. Employees shouldn’t feel pressured to avoid these rooms, but they should also not misuse the perk.