The benefits of employee rest on business.

Everyone is familiar with the workday slump — the time between 2 and 3 p.m. when chatting with a co-worker and grabbing a snack is essential to avoid yawning and head-bobbing through the rest of the workday.

The busy pace of the modern world finds many workers awake more hours than they should be. According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), a nonprofit organization promoting the understanding of sleep disorders, more than one-fourth of those surveyed in the 2008 “Sleep in America” poll say that daytime sleepiness interferes with their daily activities at least a few days per month. In all, nearly 50 million Americans chronically suffer from sleep problems and disorders that affect nearly every aspect of their lives.

The cost of no sleep

Lack of sleep can lead to poor job performance — specifically, impaired problem-solving skills and negative effects on communication, learning and memory. Combined with strained relationships due to sleep deprivation, this can make for a cranky and underperforming workforce. 

Sleepy workers can have a marked effect on their employers. Drowsiness can lead to decreased productivity, increases in errors and accidents, absenteeism, turnover and higher group insurance premiums. Combined with a strained economy, lackluster workers can spell disaster in the form of lost revenue — tens of billions of dollars each year, according to the NSF. 

Pro-nap policy

Companies are beginning to take the issue of employee sleepiness seriously. Although it’s still considered taboo to allow an employee to sleep on the job, it’s a growing trend for companies — including the likes of Google, Pizza Hut and Nike — to adopt sleep-at-work policies for their employees.

Pro-nap policies could include designated “sleep rooms,” which are rooms with no phone, no Internet access — just a few comfortable sofas, chairs and blankets where a tired employee can unwind. As little as a 10-minute nap provides the largest benefit to improving alertness, performance and mood, according to a recent study in the research journal Sleep.

Sleep deprivation has even spawned a new industry: fatigue management. Niche consultants, educators and product developers focus on helping companies and their employees increase energy and relieve stress during the workday.

One unique product is the MetroNaps EnergyPod — a specially designed reclining chair that uses a combination of ambient music, light and vibration to create a relaxing experience for the user. The EnergyPod could easily be placed in a small conference room or first aid room for a ready-made sleep or relaxation area. 

On the other hand, lounge areas with amenities such as video games or Internet access might not offer napping space, but could be an ideal place where employees can briefly escape the stress of a busy workday and recharge.

No matter the furniture, technology or policies companies employ to keep workers alert and productive, there is no better cure for daytime drowsiness than a good night’s sleep.