Employees at this Indian start-up will have the 'right to nap' for 30 minutes a day

IN India, the mattress sales specialist Wakefit wants to make nap time a part of its employees' daily schedules. A half-hour slot, at the beginning of the afternoon, has been set aside to allow staff to stay efficient during the second part of the day. But is this an initiative that will give the world of work pause for thought, as it seeks to promote employee well-being? Or is it just a clever communications campaign?

Indian startup Wakefit is setting aside nap time for its employees. In an internal memo posted on Twitter, May 5, company co-founder Chaitanya Ramalingegowda writes that he wants to "take things up a notch" by improving the company's "right to nap" policy.

The firm, which specializes in online mattress sales, is officially blocking its employees' schedules during this official nap time, allowing staff to lie down for half an hour between 2 and 2:30 pm.

Like the four-day work week, the office nap is an eternal subject of debate in the workplace, and the ultimate illustration of corporate wellness. Indeed, according to several studies, including one by NASA, a nap of 15 to 30 minutes can improve alertness and performance at work.

Other companies before Wakefit have adopted similar strategies. At Google, dedicated rooms and napping areas have been part of the organization for years. PwC and Uber have also installed nap booths or specially equipped rooms.

In his internal email, the Wakefit CEO also announces that he is working on nap pods and quiet rooms to create "the perfect nap environment" for his employees.