Survey on snoozing staff is wake-up call for employers

WHILE even the best employees are apt to the odd daydream of a summer’s afternoon, Irish workers have a tendency to go a step further by actually falling asleep on the job.

Peninsula Ireland found 61% of the employees it questioned admitted they had dropped off while clocked in.

The results of the survey, a nightmare for the country’s employers, also show 63% of the labourers missing their leaba choose a cubicle in the staff toilets for their shut-eye.

The desire for a dose is so strong that 72% of those surveyed said they would be prepared to spend an extra hour at work in exchange for the chance for an afternoon siesta at their desks.

The survey questioned 1,287 employees from a wide variety of industries via telephone and in person during the period from May 22 to June 14.

“I can understand that hectic lifestyles, stress and repetitive tasks can lead to workers feeling tired during the working day, but sleeping on the job is a sure way to get yourself fired,” said Alan Price, managing director of Peninsula Ireland.

“Falling asleep during working hours is a health and safety hazard, as well as being completely unprofessional and should not be tolerated under any circumstances.”

He said it was important for employers to wake up to the reasons as to why their staff were nodding off.

“Speaking to staff may help outline the issue and allow managers to come up with measures to help prevent it happening again,” he said. “For example, it may be a case of workers feeling they’re not being challenged enough and are finding the work boring. Setting ambitious tasks for workers to complete could help to motivate them, offering rewards if targets are met.”

Mr Price also said it was important for management to give staff a rude awakening if their dopey behaviour continues.

“If sufficient breaks are being given by the company and workers are still falling asleep then it is important to discipline the employee. Falling asleep at a workstation is a serious offence as it is wasting company time,” he said. “To deter persistent ‘nappers’ it is important to follow a standard disciplinary procedure, where warnings are issued before the matter becomes more serious, potentially leading to dismissals.”