When ticket-taker George Robitaille’s on-the-job nap caused a media storm, some commentators admitted doing the same.
George Robitaille probably never dreamed of becoming an Internet sensation. As in, while the Toronto Transit Commission fare collector was asleep on the job, chances are he wasn't entertaining visions of someone snapping his picture and uploading it to Twitter, where it would earn Mr. Robitaille Internet infamy. But that's what happened two weeks ago, and public reaction has ranged from bemused to downright harsh.
"I wish I could work at the TTC and take a nap every day like this guy," one online commenter said. "He should be fired on the spot," another wrote.
Of course, some online commentators sympathized with Mr. Robitaille. As one wrote, "Who hasn't napped on the job at least once?"
Considering the amount of sleep people get, quite a few of us have probably caught some shut-eye while at work, whether it's a nap at break time or conking out at our desks. And while anyone who's been seen asleep on the job has likely earned the derision of their colleagues, sleep deprivation is a significant problem for the workplace, affecting everything from productivity to relations with co-workers.
"It is a major problem," says Dr. James MacFarlane, director of education at MedSleep, a network of sleep medicine clinics across Canada.
In 2009, a poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation, a U.S. advocacy organization, found that the average person gets 6.7 hours of sleep a night, down from seven hours in 2001. Experts recommend that people get 7.5 hours. Lack of sleep can impair a broad range of cognitive functions, including memory, resulting in a decreased ability to focus. Not getting enough sleep can also sour interactions with colleagues.
"The No. 1 clinical symptom of sleep deprivation is irritability," says Dr. Charles Samuels, medical director of the Centre for Sleep and Human Performance in Calgary.
Debbie Lee, 33, a certified acupuncturist in Vancouver, can't afford to be irritable at work.
"A lot of the people who come to see me are really highly stressed," she says, "so I need to be the not stressed out one."
Often, Ms. Lee will lie on an acupuncture table under a heat lamp and sleep for half an hour between appointments.
"It's necessary sometimes," she says. "I'll think it's a good idea to lay on the table under the heat lamp and read a book, but of course I fall asleep."
Mike Evans, a 33-year-old contractor who lives in Burlington, Ont., will often catch a power nap during break.
"It just depends on whether or not I got enough sleep the night before," he says. He may take a 15-minute nap in his truck or find a heated room inside whatever building he is working on. "You know how it is when you're sitting in a nice warm room. It's kind of hard to keep your eyes open sometimes."
He's not the only employee of his company in need of shut-eye. For some of his co-workers, naps are a regular part of the workday.
"At the end of break, it's like, 'Go and wake Ted up. Break's over,' " he says.
Depending on a person's job, a power nap can mean the difference between life and death.
"If you're in an occupation where when something happens you only have a few seconds to respond, and driving is one of those, then actually you can have a catastrophic event," says Dr. David Dinges, a sleep researcher at the University of Pennsylvania.
A 2003 study conducted by Dr. Dinges found that sleep deprivation is linked to lapses in attention. The study looked at individuals who had four, six or eight hours of sleep a night for two weeks. Study participants were asked to monitor a computer screen where, at random intervals, the display would begin counting up in milliseconds from zero to one second.
Those in the study were asked to first notice the dial had begun counting and then stop it as soon as possible. The less sleep they had, the more likely they were to let the entire second go by without noticing.
Lack of sleep also affects a company's bottom line, Dr. Samuels says.
"Fatigue begets disability leaves," he says, pointing out that sleep deprivation has been linked to everything from high blood pressure to depression and type 2 diabetes.
While it may seem like a problem with a simple solution - go to bed earlier - Dr. McFarlane says improving one's sleep often requires much more, whether it's getting more exercise or cutting down on caffeine consumption, among other factors.
As for Mr. Robitaille, he is reportedly back at work, although he is on mail duty instead of his usual post. Let's hope there are no cameras down in the mail room.
Power napping 101
Feeling a little sleepy at the office? There's no need to wait to get home to catch some shut-eye. You just have to think strategically. Which you would do if you weren't so darned tired. But don't worry, there are ways to get some rest at work
Seize the lunch hour
Why waste all 60 minutes eating when what you really need is a catnap? Eat quick and save yourself half an hour of sleep time. It helps if you have an office. If you don't, try to find a secluded corner of the lunch room. And don't forget an alarm. You don't want to be the guy who's been asleep in the cafeteria for the past three hours.
Use your car
It's not just for driving to and from work. Why allow it to sit unused in the parking lot? Head to the back seat on break time and catch 15 minutes of well-deserved shut-eye. You'll come back refreshed and ready to focus on the task at hand.
Talk to the boss
No, not because she's so incredibly boring that any conversation with her is bound to put you under. Instead, convince her your office needs a nap policy. Pizza Hut, Nike and British Airways, among other companies, have experimented with allowing employees to catch some Zs on company time. Make the case that power naps will boost productivity and start counting sheep.