The Napping Company: Bringing Science to the Workplace

Abstract

Increasing emphasis is currently being given to the importance of bringing knowledge gained from science into places where people live and work, in order to increase the impact science has on the general public's quality of life. Scientific findings about the positive impact of napping on mood and performance are an example of research generated knowledge that needs to be brought to the workplace. A major goal of the Napping Company (www.napping.com) is to bring the science of napping to the workers and the workplace so that employees and employers can act on this knowledge and change worker napping behavior and employer napping policies. The present paper overviews the challenges inherent in making scientific knowledge useful to how we live our lives. The Napping Company is guided by five principles of knowledge transfer in the company's attempts to disseminate and increase utilization of napping research. Examples are given to illustrate how the Napping Company has used these principles to bridge the gap between napping science and nap behavior and policies in the workplace.

Lack of sleep in the workplace: What the psychologist-manager should know about sleep.

“…For example, efforts are underway to develop physiological recording equipment that can detect early signs of sleepiness to alert a driver to the need to take a break (Papadelis et al, 2006). Some businesses have instituted opportunities for on-the-job napping; daytime siestas, of course, are an institution in some cultures, even going so far as to provide napping opportunities and facilities (Anthony & Anthony, 2005). In a recent survey, one third of workers reported that their job permitted napping during breaks, and 16% reported that their employer provided a place for napping (NSF, 2008).…”