A Wake Up Call for Offices

A new room is on the rise in office design that you aren’t going to believe. The feedback it’s gotten from employees is outstanding. Brace yourselves ­– many companies are installing nap rooms. That’s right, a place for employees to catch some z’s. Before you start imagining CEOs with pillows nestled under conference tables and corporate professionals retreating to their favorite pillow fort furnished office cubicle, there’s a method to this madness.

We’ve all had that morning when we ingested enough caffeine to kill a small cat – it definitely wasn’t our shining moment. Outside the realm of toddlers, it’s proven napping works. Recent studies show a quick 10 minute nap raises productivity and lowers stress. Sleep is psychologically as vital as food and water, so the concept makes sense.

Other countries already clasp onto this idea of “sleeping on the job.” Companies in Japan encourage their workers to take a power nap literally at their office desks, and incorporate nap rooms in their office designs. Most notably, it’s hard to find a company who has taken this napquest for a drive and hasn’t reported strong positive feedback from employees.

Terry Cralle, a certified sleep expert who helps companies strengthen company culture, swears by nap rooms.

“We’ve got great research supporting the fact that naps can help corporations and employees, yet we still feel reluctant to make it an acceptable part of a healthy lifestyle and a healthy workday.”

Terry’s credibility and sound statistics may be valid, but many just can’t get past the idea. While the image of workers dozing at office desks may not give the best impression to well, anyone, some of the bigwig companies support a corporate catnap. While very low-key about it, companies like AOL, Time Warner, Google, and Nike are a few companies who… well, just do it.

There sure ain’t no shame in our office furniture game, but the closest we’ve come to slumbersome furniture is with healthcare furniture, so this idea definitely raised eyebrows at OstermanCron. Possibly, this is a concept that everybody just has to sleep on.