1 in 5 Oz workers admit to sleeping on the job

Melbourne, Aug 26 (ANI): In a new survey, one in five Australian workers admitted taking a nap at work to catch up on missed sleep.

The survey was commissioned by Virgin Active Health Clubs, who have just introduced "sleep pods" in Sydney for city workers looking for a daytime nap.

The average worker is currently getting around six hours sleep a night, two less than suggested, and sleep expert Elizabeth Shannon says the value of a good night's sleep should not be underestimated.

"Lack of sleep is the beginning of a vicious circle of deteriorating health," the Courier Mail quoted Shannon as saying.

"It exacerbates anxiety, increases stress and reduces the immune systems function.

"The strain that it places on people's relationship and attitudes is also very concerning," she stated.

Results from the survey indicated that a 20-minute "recovery" nap could be the solution in keeping workers motivated and productive.

"When people are relaxed they are more likely to come up with an intuitive idea or creative breakthrough," Shannon added. (ANI)