Afternoon naps may boost worker productivity
Bosses are always looking for ways to enhance worker productivity. By increasing employees’ effectiveness and efficiency, managers stand to boost their bottom lines.
For example, a rising number of companies are taking advantage of 360 degree appraisal solutions to foster more emotionally intelligent working systems.
Meanwhile, it seems as though encouraging personnel to take afternoon naps may also help businesses to get the most from their personnel. According to leadership and business experts Nada and Andrew Kakabadse, by allowing workers to take brief sleeps at this time of day, enterprises might be able to boost their economic fortunes.
Research results analysed by the duo suggested that taking a 90-minute nap improved workers’ ability to learn by ten per cent. The pair also noted that many airlines, including British Airways, allow their pilots to sleep during long international flights while their colleagues take over the controls.
Nada Kakabadse remarked: “Having assessed employee performance and health studies recently conducted across the UK, US and Western Europe, we believe offering workers the opportunity for a brief nap provides significant benefits in employee concentration, health and productivity.
“People are increasingly being asked to do more with less at work. Outdated and uninspiring management practice is having an oppressing effect on workforces, who are increasingly operating in environments where the attitude is ‘lunch is for wimps’.”
The specialist went on to claim that today’s management techniques are based on 19th century manufacturing models.
Andrew Kakabadse added: “We recommend companies consider and evaluate appropriate break times for their workers. Staff should be encouraged to take approved rests, and be provided with a private place where they can take a nap without any pressure of their reputation being damaged for doing so.”
Managers may also benefit from implementing 360 degree feedback techniques to help encourage intelligent working practices.
