Colleague sleeping / snoring loudly at desk

[H2OWoe]

Situation: Open plan office. At least 20 to 30 people in earshot including some quite senior people. Every day about 2.30pm a colleague falls asleep at desk, very much against their will but they cannot seem to prevent falling asleep. Loud snoring / snuffling then occurs, this goes on for as little as 20 mins or as long as two hours.

On one hand, the sleepy colleague is embarrassed this is happening but they don't seem to want to do anything to help themselves. Won't get up and walk around when feeling dozy. Won't have coffee prior to sleepy feeling. Colleague has sleep apnea but refuses to use CPAP machine. They have deliberately arranged their desk so other people cannot see them in order to not get caught sleeping but they don't realise how much noise they are making.

Other people in the office have tried tactful interruption, bringing coffee to the sleeping person, concerned comments, outright challenge. The sleeper dismisses them and won't change their behaviour.

It's embarrassing / awkward being in the office with the loud snoring coming from behind a partition whilst we all pretend it's not happening. It's also bloody distracting when trying to write a report or do anything complex. There are also often high up vistors from other companies in earshot.

I am probably being unreasonable but I am finding the noise of snoring so bloody irritating! Should something further be done or do we all just grit our teeth and continue to pretend it's not happening?

[TenForward82]

Well, I'm horrifically untactful so as soon as the snoring started I'd yell at the sleeper or go nudge them. This isn't your living room, mate, act like a professional.

Unless they're a new parent, there's not much excuse.

[howtorebuild]

If he drives, report him to dvla.

[howtorebuild]

There is an excuse, he has SA. He is refusing to comply with medication, like many do with various conditions.

[WickedWax]

Has their boss noticed? Surely this counts as misconduct?

[Littleorangecat]

Management must deal with ASAP. Medical conditions should be managed & dealt with appropriately.
What do they say when they wake up & realise?

[CrystalMcPistol]

Imagine going to all that effort to conceal your napping rather than trying to fix the cause.

Are HR not aware?

[TenForward82]

Steady on rebuild. OP doesn't have any evidence the snorer has ever fallen asleep while driving! Some of the replies on here are baffling at times.

"Shoot them in the face!"

"Murder their puppies! Bastard!"

"Report them to someone in authority for perceived crimes we have no evidence of!"

[happymummyone]

All take turns poking him in the head when he starts. But seriously, if the whole bloody office fell asleep for up to two hours a day your boss would not be happy, so why does this person get away with it? They have a responsibility to sort out their sleepnissues if it impacts on the working day. And he or she sounds like they are ignoring all helpful suggestions on how to combat tiredness. Must be nice to sleep in the day and say it can't be helped!

[ImperialBlether]

No, but if you are sleeping involuntarily and have been diagnosed with sleep apnoea, then it's obvious there may be trouble with driving.

Does the person have a carb overload at lunchtime?

[NerrSnerr]

Report them to the dvla for falling asleep at work? I'd have to go and wake then up with a work question on a regular basis.

[iklboo]

DH recently shouted 'But I can't fight TWO robots'.

Along with 'And off (sweeping hand gesture) into obscurity' in a proper RSC 'actor' voice.

DS 'Don't let the chickens get me'.

Me....apparently I sleep like the dead & have never said a word.

[howtorebuild]

www.gov.uk/obstructive-sleep-apnoea-and-driving

[iklboo]

Sorry! Wrong thread

[TenForward82]

rebuild Fair enough, I didn't realise it was a condition that requires them to "fess up" to DVLA. But in fairness, he might have already told them. Perhaps not, if he's in such denial about it, but he could have.

[BitOutOfPractice]

Yes, if this person is in denial about their condition, refusing treatment, and is still driving, of course they are a danger on the road

I am amazed that they are getting away with being asleep for 2 hours without the boss being pissed off

[PausingFlatly]

Yet strangely appropriate, ikiboo.

[H2OWoe]

So I'm not being a total cow for wanting to thump them :)

Various people have changed the person fairly directly. The sleeper has somehow worked out a way of disarming other people (including their manager who has directly challenged them in the past on this). The company pays for private health cover so they have full access to good medical care.

When they wake up they make a lots of coughing spluttering noises and yawn extravagantly and fairly shamelessly - I think the fact that other people cannot make eye contact makes them feel invisible.

I have a really low tolerance to noise like this so whilst other people are embarrassed I'm annoyed - if they were 100% silent I wouldn't care ... It's the snoring snuffling snorty noises that are really making me cross. Oh well, maybe I should put on headphones!

[TenForward82]

Also, I'm sick of listening to snoring at home, I'd be damned if I'd put up with it while in the office too.

[Kewcumber]

Steady on rebuild. OP doesn't have any evidence the snorer has ever fallen asleep while driving!

The biggest cause of death in sufferers of sleep apnoea is falling asleep at the wheel with the resultant risk to others. It is a notifiable condition to the DVLA and if you are not managing at least 4 hours on CPAP a night then you really shouldn't be driving. I would guess there isn't a sleep apnoea sufferer who hasn't fallen asleep at the wheel at some point - its often what drives you to the GP.

I have been that person OP, it's mortifying but on the other hand I persevered with CPAP (yes it is bloody hard) as soon as I was diagnosed and the falling asleep in work/driving stopped within days.

It is difficult but I think whoever his boss is needs to deal with it. If he falls asleep in the car on the way home from work (and kills himself or someone else) you will all be sorry that you were too embarassed to deal with it.

[happymummyone]

They sound really selfish and like they feel they can get away with things others can't. Oh well, if he won't stop a few 'accidental' kicks in the shins might wake him up quicker

[TenForward82]

kewcumber, maybe make sure you're caught up on replies before commenting?

In other news, this sleeper sounds really determined. Why the hell are they allowed to get away with sleeping away up to 2 hours of the working day? They'd better bloody well make it up in unpaid overtime.

[Kewcumber]

He will have been told by the sleep clinic who fitted him with his cpap machine the law around driving - they don't let you leave the clinic without the appropriate leaflet telling you that it needs reporting and they can contact the consultant if necessary to confirm he is compliant with CPAP therapy.

All CPAP machines I know have chips which monitor usage which are plugged in and analysed at your annual appointment so there's no escaping that your not complaint. I suspect the clinic may have a duty to report him as being non-complaint at his next appt.

[Kewcumber]

Maybe I cross posted as I have other stuff going on

I'll consider myself told off though, thanks.

[Kewcumber]

And now I've caught up with the replies I'm even more confused - why isn't what I said valid Falling asleep at the wheel IS the biggest cause of death from sleep apnoea.

[Gruntfuttock]

"yawn extravagantly"

THAT would drive me even more bonkers than the sleeping. I can't bear it if anyone does that. In fact, even reading those two words has wound me up! I don't blame you for wanting to thump them. I agree that I hope he or she doesn't drive. It really can't go on, can it?