February 27, 2007
Power Naps Becoming Accepted
It looks like a lot of businesses are starting to see the benefits of power naps according to this article.
WASHINGTON –– Sleeping on the job goes against the grain of American capitalism, but even US businesses are now flirting with worktime “power naps” like those taken by more laid-back colleagues abroad.
Not surprisingly, other businesses see the power nap as a money-making opportunity, to sell chairs, cocoons, pods and other devices.
Take Yarde Metals, a firm specializing in metal sales and distribution whose 640 employees work round-the-clock, many running heavy equipment like fork lifts.
Typical in such companies is a break room with vending machine snacks and coffee. But Yarde has gone one step further—equipping its headquarters in the northeastern US state of Connecticut with a “serenity suite.”
“It’s full stress management,” said spokeswoman Susan Kozikowski. “It takes the nap to the next level.”
The room’s sky-blue walls and dusky-colored ceiling and carpets leave nappers feeling like they’re floating when they recline in a chaise longue in so-called “zero-gravity” position. Soft sounds from speakers and aromatherapy relaxants enhance the mood.
“Twenty minutes on this Z-lounge is equivalent to two hours of traditional meditation and four hours of sleep,” Kozikowski said.
The company feels this is important for night workers, their health, safety and even productivity.
“We run three shifts, people of different ages, some people working more than one job, they have children. For various reasons, for health reasons, they are tired and they need a break,” she said.
A long-term study of Greek men and women published this month week in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that 30-minute mid-day naps can dramatically reduce heart disease.
WASHINGTON –– Sleeping on the job goes against the grain of American capitalism, but even US businesses are now flirting with worktime “power naps” like those taken by more laid-back colleagues abroad.
Not surprisingly, other businesses see the power nap as a money-making opportunity, to sell chairs, cocoons, pods and other devices.
Take Yarde Metals, a firm specializing in metal sales and distribution whose 640 employees work round-the-clock, many running heavy equipment like fork lifts.
Typical in such companies is a break room with vending machine snacks and coffee. But Yarde has gone one step further—equipping its headquarters in the northeastern US state of Connecticut with a “serenity suite.”
“It’s full stress management,” said spokeswoman Susan Kozikowski. “It takes the nap to the next level.”
The room’s sky-blue walls and dusky-colored ceiling and carpets leave nappers feeling like they’re floating when they recline in a chaise longue in so-called “zero-gravity” position. Soft sounds from speakers and aromatherapy relaxants enhance the mood.
“Twenty minutes on this Z-lounge is equivalent to two hours of traditional meditation and four hours of sleep,” Kozikowski said.
The company feels this is important for night workers, their health, safety and even productivity.
“We run three shifts, people of different ages, some people working more than one job, they have children. For various reasons, for health reasons, they are tired and they need a break,” she said.
A long-term study of Greek men and women published this month week in the Archives of Internal Medicine showed that 30-minute mid-day naps can dramatically reduce heart disease.
