Siesta time!
Latin American and Mediterranean countries already have siestas, so why can’t we? Just imagine getting a summer’s afternoon off to indulge in sunbathing in the park, dozing under the duvet, devouring a long lunch or just meeting friends in the sunshine? It would do wonders to lower stress levels and make the working week so much less of a chore.
Researchers at Haagan Dazs have discovered that the average UK employee works 40 days of unpaid overtime every year, that's the equivalent of £23 billion of free work in unpaid overtime,* so it's time to get our own back. Lifestyle consultant Suzy Greaves explain how to convince your boss that a siesta is the perfect summer office stress-buster:
How to convince the boss:
- Give 'em the old razzle-dazzle — come across as a professional and present how your siesta will work "in practice" to your boss
- Shower them with stats - NASA has proven that a 45-minute "time out" period in the afternoon increases worker's productivity by 35 per cent.
- Underpromise, overdeliver — be smug and get all your work finished on time, so they don't have an answer.
And if management doesn't listen:
- Be inspired: rally your fellow workers to conduct a mini-strike at the hottest part of the day
- Go mad: lobby for an "indulgence break" in the afternoon, charging all treats back on expenses
*Figures from the TUC
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