In light of International Stress Awareness Week (4th – 8th November), a company has put forward a motion that naps at work could lead to staff feeling refreshed, more alert and energized.
This suggestion has come from Sumo Sleep, a company that specialises in weighted blankets. Weighted blankets are heavier blankets which are thought to make the person using them feel calmer when they sleep as a result of the pressure coming from it.
Sumo Sleep points out that employers have a duty of care to their employees and that introducing workplace naps could ease stress and anxiety. Being stressed can also lead to damages to your personal health and to take time off work.
Google has introduced the idea of nap pods, where employees can go take a nap in a designated area of the office.
Sumo Sleep believes naps can be very beneficial, allowing your whole body to take a rest from the stressful day a worker may be facing. Only a 20-minute nap can lead to an afternoon of productive work.
Giles Watkins, author of the book Positive Sleep said:
Naps are a powerful way to upgrade your night’s sleep and have proven benefits to your health and your thinking. Short naps have been shown to reduce your stress and enhance your immune system, as well as reducing both blood pressure and the incidence of heart attacks. Supporters of naps range from Winston Churchill to NASA! So, for a business that wants its employees to be more alert with improved focus on results, to be more accurate and solve problems better, I strongly recommend that naps can form part of the answer!
Abeer Iqbal, founder of Sumo Sleep said:
For businesses to support employee’s health and wellbeing, one of the biggest attributes is sleep health. Sleep plays a big part in allowing us to recover from the stresses and strains of the day.
Darius is the editor of HRreview. He has previously worked as a finance reporter for the Daily Express. He studied his journalism masters at Press Association Training and graduated from the University of York with a degree in History.
May we safely assume that train drivers won’t be included in this “initiative” ?