A recent trade show offered the opportunity to check out products from Framery, Silence Business Solutions and other companies hoping to launch a new wave – with their new product – in places of business:
Nap pods.
There’s reality, theory, and fantasy going on here.
Reality: We don’t get enough sleep. Our productivity at work can suffer, and that negatively impacts employers’ bottom lines.
Theory: A brief, say, 15-minute nap during the workday – also known as a power nap – may help improve employee productivity.
Fantasy: American employers will welcome with open arms the idea of allowing employees to nap during the work day, and even provide a cozy, pricey place to do it.
| Manager: OK, I think we’ve covered our agenda, does anyone have anything to add? |  |
| John: Well, since you asked, I just read an article that said more than a third of Americans aren’t getting the enough sleep! |  |
| John: And this contributes to problems like health issues and mistakes at work – it costs $411 billion in annual economic losses! That’s the equivalent of about 1.23 million working days lost each year to insufficient sleep! |  |
| Manager: Your point, John? |  |
| John: Your yawn is my point. If there was a quiet, private spot here in the office, anyone could take a catnap, and wake up re-energized and refreshed and ready! To make less mistakes! To make more money! |  |
| Manager: Catnap? You know we don’t allow animals in the office. |  |
| John: A catnap. You know, 40 winks? Power nap? |  |
| Manager: That’s great, John, you’ve given everyone a good laugh. Now, if there are no further questions… |  |
| John (starts passing his phone around the table): Look, I found these really cool nap pods online… |  |
| Manager: Pods? Don’t whales come in pods? I thought I said no animals in the office. |  |
| John: …it’s all self-contained, so you just go in, close the door, and have a quick nap… |  |
| Manager: Am I understanding you correctly, John? You’re advocating that the team here act like a bunch of babies, and take naps during the day? On company time? |  |
| John: …and the nap pod you’re looking at has an exterior light that goes on so we know it’s occupied… |  |
| Manager: On company time, John? You want to get paid for napping on company time? |  |
| John: …And it’s only $19,000! |  |
| Manager: This meeting is adjourned. John, let’s you and I take a walk over to HR, shall we? |  |
