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Sleeping on Company Time

If you don’t believe sleeping at inappropriate times is a problem in China, let me relate something that happened yesterday.

A Chinese friend asked if I could proof-read a letter that her former classmate was posting around the office. Although it would be inappropriate for me to say which company the letter was from, it was one of the top technology firms in the world, one that you have definitely heard of.

The content of the letter instructed people to stop sleeping in the office or risk termination. When I asked if they were having this problem with foreigners (since the notification was being translated into English), she told me that while they were not, it would be inappropriate to post it only in Chinese. Below is the copy of the letter that was posted in the office. The name is blacked out . Keep in mind this is a major international company.

If you want additional resources about sleeping in China, here is an entry I posted a couple of weeks ago, and here is a very good website devoted entirely to pictures of Chinese people sleeping in odd places. Someone has a lot of time on his hands.

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Wake up!

On September 15th, 2007 Anonymous says:

People in China, similar to Spain, like to have a little afternoon nap (siesta) during the day. It is not uncommon to have the school children take a nap after lunch to recharge. Since you mentioned it is a global company, the management is probably blind to the local practice and would do good with some education before even setting up shop.

Absurd

On September 15th, 2007 Anonymous says:

This is a typical 'cultural differences' argument. It's complete nonsense. It is absolutely NOT appropriate to sleep in the office during company time in China. Napping came out of the SOE system where it made no difference how productive you were. Jobs were completely secure, no matter what. This is not Confucius, it's Mao!

WeeBob

company naptime

On September 23rd, 2007 Anonymous says:

I'm in China for 2 months working as a consultant at a very large, well known Chinese company. At 1pm every day, the office lights are turned out, and all employees are invited to take a 30 min. nap. Some people put their head on the desk, or make a bed out of conference room chairs. Then at 1:30pm, a song comes over the loudspeaker to gently wake everyone up as the lights come on.

U.S. workers meditate at work hours

On October 9th, 2007 Anonymous says:

Not sure what's the point of this posting. A 15 minutes nap can make a person more productive at work. In the U.S. some companies have started having quiet resting areas at lunch for workers. Some of my co-workers in the U.S. meditates for half an hour every day during work hours and frequently takes more than an hour lunch -- this is not a government job either, and I don't label it cultural.

Sleeping positions

On January 26th, 2008 Dr Phill (not verified) says:

Speaking of sleeping, some says there is a connection between sleeping positions with relationship. Check this out : http://allaboutloveandlife.com/love-tips/sleeping-position-and-relations...

this isn't just china

On February 29th, 2008 Virtual Office (not verified) says:

this isn't just china related. i used to sleep in my office. i had a big leather chair and could lie back and take a nap. my office co-worker used to wake me if the boss was coming.

work

On March 5th, 2008 scarpe da lavoro (not verified) says:

Companies are also sometimes distinguished for legal and regulatory purposes between public companies and private companies. Public companies are companies whose shares can be publicly traded, often on a regulated stock exchange.

pictures

On March 14th, 2008 vedete nemachiate (not verified) says:

The most common form of company used for business ventures. Specifically, a limited company is a "company in which the liability of each shareholder is limited to the amount individually invested" with corporations being "the most common example of a limited company."

Sleeping...

On March 27th, 2008 drug rehabilitation (not verified) says:

This is a problem. It happened to me once. I was taking some antibiotics to cure a dreadful cold and a side effect of the pills was feeling sleepy all the time. After spending four hours in front of the computer I was too tired and fell asleep. Luckily nobody saw me and if they did I would have got off with only a warning. We don't have these fliers around the office.

There are some progressive

On April 14th, 2008 businesses for sale new zealand (not verified) says:

There are some progressive companies that allow their employees to have a 30 minute nap at lunch time.

Sleeping

On April 30th, 2008 Lora (not verified) says:

I can understand from the business perspective but as well the employees perspective. When you are sitting in front of the computer for hours on end you tend to become sleepy...IT IS EXHAUSTING!!

And yes if you are on medication that cause drowsiness you may not have control over that.

But we have to take into consideration the owners perspective. If you are feeling overwhelmed then for your first break eat you lunch and at lunch tome take a power snooze! I would not appreciate it if I am paying you as my employee and your sleeping at the desk!

Lora

http://www.drug-rehab-center.ca

Another point to make is

On June 16th, 2008 Anonymous (not verified) says:

Another point to make is maybe if there were a "Nap Time" with the company, nobody would feel exhausted and run down. Everybody has many things in their life to juggle and balance as well as their job, so this is very exhausting on them!

Lora

http://www.new-york-drug-rehab.org/

The membership of BURST

On June 30th, 2008 offshore outsourcing (not verified) says:

The membership of BURST appoint a committee every year to run the station. All committee posts are selected by ballot of the membership, with the exception of the Station Manager who is appointed by the UBU Media Board.

I was taking some

On December 10th, 2008 Frederick Lay (not verified) says:

I was taking some antibiotics to cure a dreadful cold and a side effect of the pills was feeling sleepy all the time. After spending four hours in front of the computer I was too tired and fell asleep. Luckily nobody saw me and if they did I would have got off with only a warning. We don't have these fliers around the office.