Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think it's a bit strange to take a nap at your desk during the work day?

40 replies

bumbleymummy · 25/02/2015 15:04

Colleague is sleeping in his chair at his desk right now. Just slumped down, got himself comfortable and closed his eyes. This is a bit strange - yes?

No medical conditions btw - he just takes the occasional 'cat nap' at work.

OP posts:
HamishBamish · 25/02/2015 15:07

It's quite common in some cultures, but I've never experienced it here in the UK. I would find it a bit odd too tbh.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 25/02/2015 15:12

I wonder how he actually does it too. We're quite a noisy bunch!

OP posts:
Aridane · 25/02/2015 15:25

Was astonished to find this the norm when seconded tp Hong Kong

FenellaFellorick · 25/02/2015 15:30

I suppose if management weren't happy with it they'd give him a poke. I have read that small naps do make you more productive overall but I would still be a bit surprised to see someone doing it.

LouiseBrooks · 25/02/2015 15:39

Some years ago I worked at a place where a verysenior manager came over from our head office for six months. He was often seen lying back in his chair napping after lunch - in an open plan office. We thought it was hilarious and often wondered if we should wake him up but were too cowardly.

Tangerineandturquoise · 25/02/2015 15:41

I had a boss who used to nap every day at her desk- except the day a week she had her Blue Sky Thinking-Working From Home Day

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 25/02/2015 15:42

No management around at the moment Fenella! I don't think he would take one of they were here. Well, maybe not so obviously!

OP posts:
Shadow1986 · 25/02/2015 15:43

There was a few people that did it at my old work. 3 that I know of used to nap in their offices at lunchtime, and 2 used to go out to their car...all were over 50, not sure if that's relevant but seemed more common with that age group. I don't know anyone who did it in open plan though!
My boss even had a pillow in her office and used to sleep on her floor for half hour every lunchtime.

Delphine31 · 25/02/2015 15:44

I do this a couple of times a week, but I'm quite discreet about it. I've mastered sitting in my chair in a position that is comfy enough to go to sleep but at a glance would look as though I'm reading something on my desk.

Having said that, I do have a medical condition for which I take medication that makes me sleepy (and I mean really sleepy - not just 'tired'), and it's much better for me and for my productivity if I have a 20-minute snooze after lunch.

My immediate colleagues obviously know I do this, but I'm quite honest about it anyway and my boss knows about it.

ShatnersBassoon · 25/02/2015 15:45

I had a colleague who did this, but he was diagnosed with sleep apnoea. We didn't know he had a sleep condition when it first happened, and neither did he. He wasn't really choosing to doze off though.

Weebirdie · 25/02/2015 15:47

I can't see anything wrong with it and cat napping is supposed to be extremely beneficial for a person.

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 25/02/2015 15:48

He's in his 20s Shadow so I don't think it's an age thing.

I think if I had my own office I would be tempted to bring a pillow for lunch time...

OP posts:
FamiliesShareGerms · 25/02/2015 15:49

Sleeping at work is gross misconduct here (unless during your lunch hour)

I'd wake them up to check they were ok

OinkBalloon · 25/02/2015 15:59

When I was struggling with post-viral fatigue at work, I was instructed by the company doctor to book a conference room for 1h every day so that I could lock the door and take a nap. I didnt make a song-and-dance about this, but when colleagues finally realised what i was doing it drove them nuts. The doctor knew that people would be intolerant of this, and told me to refer anyone who gave me grief over it to him. If I wasn't allowed to nap at work until I was able to cope with a full day, he would sign me off completely for two weeks.

Given that choice - accept me napping discreetly or have me signed off - senior management supported me, even though colleagues and line manager did not like it.

Floggingmolly · 25/02/2015 16:03

Surely taking 40 winks at lunchtime (when you are officially on a work break and your time is your own) is a whole world away from randomly honking away when you're meant to be working? Shock

Polyethyl · 25/02/2015 16:18

I occasionally took a lunchbreak nap when we used to be in an office with a handily discreet corner. Now we've moved to a noisy open plan it's impossible to nap - and I definitely work better after some post luncheon shut eye.

PlumpingUpPartridge · 25/02/2015 16:25

There's a man who has a nap every day on the sofas in our lunch room. We call him Sleeping Man. He is in his 20s/30s so no age-related excuse.

I think it seems like a jolly good idea.

LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett · 25/02/2015 16:28

One of the press guys at my old work used to do this after boozy lunches (Just outed myself there!). And I used to do it when I worked three jobs, I had a little cubicle and would give myself 20 minutes at lunch time.

I think doing it in my wee cubicle at lunch was fine, actually falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon in an open plan office not so much so...

BettySwollocksandaCrustyRack · 25/02/2015 16:29

If the traders here need a nap they wouldn't nap on their chairs....they go into the meeting room and nap on our leather sofa.

They call it a power nap.......I call it odd, lol.

TwinkieTwinkle · 25/02/2015 16:29

My father does that occasionally. When he's at work, if his door is closed it means he's not to be disturbed. If he is shattered he closes the door, turns his chair to face the window (away from the door) and has a nap. The only staff member who knows is his secretary. He has always said that after closing his eyes for five/ten minutes he feels a lot more awake and is far more productive. Fair enough. I can understand why it might seem strange though and obviously he does or else he wouldn't close his office door!

Buglife · 25/02/2015 16:40

Hungover?! My DH used to have a job that required after work dos and networking 3-4 nights a week when he was starting out, he was always a bit hungover and a post lunch nap often saw him through the evening!

SoonToBeMrsB · 25/02/2015 16:43

I used to work in a student accommodation and during the summer when the students were all gone (before we got the company in to do the deep clean) I would take a nap in an empty flat Blush

We were allowed into the flats to eat our lunch because the alternative was eating at our desks in front of the busy reception but I was quite happy to take advantage of the nice, comfy bed.

MoreBeta · 25/02/2015 16:49

Oh I used to do this at work. Go in the gents toilet cubicle, sit on the closed lid, head back on the tank. Just 10 minutes and to be honest several other people used to go in there to snort coke so its not the worst thing.

I still do have a snooze at lunchtime occasionally although I tend to work from home so 10 mins on the sofa at lunch time. Brilliant!

Original poster
bumbleymummy · 25/02/2015 16:51

No bug, no hangover! :)

It's interesting to see how many people do this. Maybe it's not as strange as I thought. Although I do agree that doing it during your lunch break is a bit different than just taking 40 winks while you're supposed to be working!

OP posts:
FayKorgasm · 25/02/2015 16:52

Dh office had a work productivity talk thing a couple of years ago and one thing that was recommended was a 30 minute nap at lunchtime. Its not unusually to see rows of people napping at 1:30pm now and productivity has increased and errors are much less. I thought it was a bit weird but it seems to have the desired effect.

Swipe left for the next trending thread