Sleep and Work: An Unlikely Combination
IStock Photo 9550529 © bravobravo
Naptime is something most kids fight against, no matter how tired they are. But when those kids grow up and start working for a living, 40 winks during the day starts to have some real appeal. A little snooze during the work day may seem like an idea employers would frown upon, but surprisingly, 1 in 2.94 Americans say their bosses will let them catch some Zzz’s at work—perhaps because they are believers in the refreshing benefits of a nap. And for the unlucky majority? Many find a way to sneak in a quick snooze, even if it’s against the rules. According to the same survey by the National Sleep Foundation, the odds are 1 in 10 an employee has taken a nap at work.
But it’s not always easy to get a quality nap, sanctioned or not. Only 1 in 6.25 employed adults work for someone who will actually provide a napping area. The rest must make due with their desk or work station, letting their head fall with a nod or a thud, depending on the degree of fatigue. For many of us the temptation is daily because the odds of an adult feeling tired or worn out nearly every day are 1 in 5.88.
Fatigue at work costs billions of dollars every year in lost productivity. It’s hard to be productive when you’re fighting off unconsciousness, and needing more rest causes 1 in 50 workers to miss work at least once a month. Even if they make it to work, 1 in 8.33 will show up late and 1 in 25 will leave work early due to sleepiness at least once a month.
Skipping out might be a better solution than conking out, as National Economic Council head Lawrence Summers learned, when he fell asleep during a speech by President Obama. Apparently he still wasn’t well rested because he fell asleep again a few days later during a meeting between credit card company representatives and the president. One wonders how he felt about naps when he was six.








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