question archive Sleeping on the Job Although the recession has been receding for several years now, many U
Sleeping on the Job Although the recession has been receding for several years now, many U
Subject:ManagementPrice: Bought3
Sleeping on the Job
Although the recession has been receding for several years now, many U.S. workers still feel
pushed to the limit as they work long hours.
One consequence is that sleep has taken a back seat to other matters deemed more important. But
rather than tread through the workday in a zombie-like, sleep-deprived state, some workers are
turning to secret "power naps" in order to recharge. For example, Ronit Rogosziniski, a 45-year-
old financial planner, wakes up at 5 a.m. each day, works, and at noon sneaks to her car for a
quick snooze. She is not alone, as evidenced by the comments on Wall Street Oasis, a website
frequently visited by investment bankers who blog about their travails. Their advice? When
power-napping on a toilet, put the seat down and keep your pants up, "for maximum comfort."
Though the thought of an investment banker napping on a toilet in a power suit might be amusing,
many believe lack of sleep is no laughing matter. Research examining the effects of sleep
deprivation has found that tired workers experience higher levels of back pain, depression, and
job dissatisfaction, along with lower levels of performance. Losing even an hour of sleep as a
result of the shift to daylight savings time is enough to prompt higher levels of cyberloafing.
Some companies are paying attention to the costs associated with sleep deprivation and are
encouraging napping at work. One survey of 600 companies conducted by the Society for Human
Resource Management revealed that 6 percent had dedicated nap rooms in 2011. In addition, a
poll of 1,508 workers conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that 34 percent said
they were allowed to nap at work.
Questions
1. Should organizations be concerned about their employees being sleep-deprived? What
factors influencing sleep might be more or less under the control of an organization?
2. How might reinforcement theory play a role in the extent to which employees are sleep-
deprived?
3. How might sleep deprivation influence aspects of expectancy theory? How might the
incorporation of "nap rooms" for sleep-deprived employees influence aspects of equity
theory?
4. If you were a manager who noticed your employees were sleep-deprived, what steps
might you take to help them? What theories of motivation could you use to help them?
