In the pursuit of productivity, the modern-day workplace has become a battleground against fatigue. Sleep-deprived employees fight to keep their eyes open, their minds focused, and their energy levels sustained amidst the relentless demands of their work.

Yet, amidst this struggle, a quiet revolution is brewing—a movement that challenges the traditional notion of work and embraces the power of a short, rejuvenating slumber—the power nap.

Once considered a sign of laziness or unprofessionalism, power naps are now being embraced as a powerful tool for boosting productivity and well-being.

Amid the tussle of employers supporting and opposing power nap, a nation that’s known for its work ethics and high-scale productivity is pioneering the power nap movement in the workplace.

We’re talking about Japan, a country renowned for its dedication and hard-working employee strength. Employers are embracing Japan’s power nap facilities as a way to boost productivity and well-being among employees.

Companies are providing vertical napping pods, also known as “Giraffenap” pods, to help employees get the rest they need. This trend reflects a growing recognition of the importance of employee health and happiness.

With such trends emerging in the global work culture, proponents argue that these short, strategic naps can boost alertness, enhance focus, and improve overall performance. Opponents, however, raise concerns about potential disruptions to workflow and the professional image of a company that embraces napping on the job.

As the power nap debate unfolds, there’s a clash between rejuvenation and productivity—a narrative where slumber meets success—and that is what led Real Research to conduct this survey on Japan’s power nap solution for employees.

In this detailed insight, we will be discussing what the respondents opine about taking power naps in the office during work hours and how Japan’s power nap solutions impact the productivity of the employees. Read on to find out!

Highlights

  • 60.05% confessed taking power naps during work hours
  • Nearly 62% experienced increased productivity due to power naps during work hours
  • Sleeping booths should be installed in all workspaces, according to 62.77%

In the Land of the Rising Sun, Naps Take the Center Stage

For many of us, it’s a daily thing. After lunch, the eyelids start playing games, the head slumps forward, only to recoil, ideally before anyone notices, and energy levels hit rock bottom. This means the afternoon slump is here, and putting up a fight seems pointless.

The Spanish have their siestas, the French love a post-lunch power nap, and the Japanese? They have “Giraffenaps,” specially designed vertical sleeping booths with strategically placed pads and platforms that support the back, shins, head, and feet, allowing users to take a 20-minute nap while standing.

Japan’s power nap solution has quickly gained traction across the globe for its uniqueness and efficiency. Real Research began its survey by asking respondents about their knowledge of “Giraffenap.” A significant majority of 41.6% stated that they were well aware of the newly launched Japan’s power nap booths.

Meanwhile, 35.08% of respondents mentioned that they were vaguely aware of these vertical sleeping pods, and 23.32% were completely unaware of such a thing.

How Are the Afternoon Slumbers Taking Over?

Contrary to being perceived as laziness, taking an afternoon nap at the office, often referred to as ‘inemuri’ or sleeping while present at work, actually demonstrates an employee’s unwavering dedication to the corporate mission.

In some form or another, this culture of taking a quick nap during work has been going on for centuries, even though it is fondly called by different names in different parts of the world.

Real Research also asked its respondents if they have ever embraced the afternoon slumber during work hours, to which a whopping 60.05% confessed to doing so, while 39.95% asserted they haven’t ever taken naps between work hours.

Poll-on-taking-power-naps-during-work-hours
Fig. 1: Poll on taking power naps during work hours

Are You a Napping Ninja?

Studies show that short naps can improve your mental performance, memory, alertness, attention, and reaction time. They can also make you more creative and productive. Some companies across the globe have even started offering napping rooms to help their employees get the most out of their naps.

When the respondents to this survey were asked if they had experienced an increase in productivity after incorporating power naps into their routine, 61.92% quipped that they did experience a productivity boost, while 38.08% said they didn’t.

Respondents-experience-of-productivity-boost-due-to-Power-naps
Fig. 2: Respondents’ experience of productivity boost due to Power naps

Should Your Company Embrace Power Naps?

As some companies are looking into integrating power naps into their work culture, it remains a far-fetched idea for most employers.

In line with the growing trend of power napping, this survey asked respondents if they agreed that integrating power naps into the workplace can enhance overall productivity.

A generous 51.35% somewhat agreed with the statement, demonstrating a growing inclination towards this novel practice, while 28.57% strongly agreed. On the other hand, 15.43% somewhat disagreed with the statement, and 4.65% strongly disagreed.

On the heels of this statement, when asked if all workplaces should provide sleeping booths and pods to imitate Japan’s power nap facilities, a staggering majority of 62.77% nodded in agreement, while 37.23% opposed the idea.

Opinion-on-having-napping-stations-and-pods-in-all-workspaces-worldwide
Fig. 3: Opinion on having napping stations and pods in all workspaces worldwide

As the culture of power napping during work gains traction and more companies experiment with nap programs, respondents were asked whether power napping will become a globally adopted practice in the future workplace.

Most of the respondents (45.57%) believe power napping will become a globally adopted practice, while 31.97% are certain it will. 16.73% were somewhat uncertain about the adoption of power naps by the global workforce, and 5.73% were certain that it wouldn’t be adopted as a work culture.

Is Sleeping On The Job Okay?

Lastly, respondents were asked whether the availability of power nap facilities would influence their decision to accept a job offer. The results revealed that a significant portion of respondents consider power nap facilities to be a valuable perk.

47.42%) indicated that they would likely consider power nap facilities when choosing a potential employer. Another 29.52% stated that they would definitely factor in the availability of napping facilities when making their decision. These findings suggest that power nap facilities are becoming an increasingly important consideration for job seekers.

Only 16.37% of respondents said that they would probably not base their decision on whether or not a company offers power nap facilities. A smaller group of 6.7% indicated that power nap facilities would not be a factor at all in their job search.

Are Power Naps the New Workplace Norm?

The debate over power naps in the workplace is far from settled. As the culture of power napping continues to evolve, it is important to carefully weigh the potential benefits and drawbacks to determine whether this practice is a good fit for a particular organization. One thing is clear: power naps are gaining traction in the workplace, and more and more companies are experimenting with nap programs. As these programs continue to develop, it will be interesting to see how multinational conglomerates incorporate these facilities into their systems.

Methodology

 
Survey TitleSurvey on Japan’s Power Nap Solution for Employees
DurationNovember 22 – November 29, 2023
Number of Participants6,000
DemographicsMales and females, aged 21 to 99
Participating Countries Afghanistan, Algeria, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, China (Hong Kong) China (Macao), China (Taiwan), Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gambia, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greanada, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lebanon, Libya, Lithuania, Malaysia, Maldives, Maluritania, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar [Burma], Namibia, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Palestine, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Vietnam, Yemen, Zimbabwe.