Percent Of People Napping At Work [Survey]

Survey Summary. In a recent survey of 2,000 American workers, we explored the prevalence of napping during work hours. Surprisingly, 1 in 3 employees are taking advantage of this phenomenon to catch up on much-needed rest. This trend varies significantly across states, with North Dakota, Alaska, and Nebraska seeing over half of their workforce admitting to napping on the job. Conversely, workers in Vermont, Wyoming, and Montana reported no instances of napping. Here are the key findings:

33% of workers acknowledge that they nap at work.
Among those who nap, 15% do so at their desks, while 37% prefer a bed.
One-third of nappers do not set an alarm.
Workers managing childcare responsibilities are 6% more likely to take a nap.
North Dakota has the highest napping rate, while Montana, Vermont, and Wyoming report the least.
Over 50% of employees admit to spending work hours on social media, web surfing, and texting.

Percent Of People Napping At Work By State

Rank	State:	Percent Of Nappers
1	North Dakota	67%
2	Alaska	67%
3	Nebraska	53%
4	Delaware	50%
5	Iowa	50%
6	Louisiana	50%
7	New Mexico	50%
8	Washington	47%
9	Texas	44%
10	Kentucky	43%
11	Oregon	43%
12	New Jersey	41%
13	Virginia	41%
14	Massachusetts	40%
15	Maine	40%
16	West Virginia	40%
17	Maryland	39%
18	Georgia	38%
19	Illinois	37%
20	California	36%
21	Alabama	36%
22	Colorado	36%
23	New York	35%
24	Nevada	35%
25	Ohio	35%
26	Florida	34%
27	New Hampshire	33%
28	South Dakota	33%
29	Idaho	33%
30	North Carolina	32%
31	Minnesota	30%
32	Pennsylvania	29%
33	Wisconsin	29%
34	South Carolina	29%
35	Arizona	29%
36	Mississippi	27%
36	Indiana	27%
38	Oklahoma	27%
39	Michigan	26%
40	Tennessee	26%
41	Rhode Island	25%
42	Missouri	24%
43	Connecticut	24%
44	Arkansas	22%
45	Utah	21%
46	Hawaii	17%
47	Kansas	14%
47	Montana	0%
49	Vermont	0%
50	Wyoming	0%

Interactive Map Of Napping At Work By State

Other Non-Work Activities at Work

Besides napping, employees often engage in various activities during work hours that might not please their boss. What else are workers doing to pass the time or take a much-needed break?

Unsurprisingly, the most common distractions can be handled from their desks:

Here are some of the other activities reported:

Caring for/spending time with pets
Constantly checking emails
Daydreaming
Applying for other jobs
Doodling/Making Art/Crocheting
Exercising
Completing tasks for side jobs
Participating in a range of activities that could lead to a visit to HR if done in the office

Methodology

Zippia.com, a career resource platform, conducted a study involving 2,000 employees working remotely across the U.S. to determine how they are utilizing their work hours in the evolving work landscape. Each participant answered six straightforward questions regarding off-task behavior during work hours.

Conclusion

It’s clear that while napping can rejuvenate you, if your productivity is suffering and your boss catches you napping at your desk, it might not reflect well on you. Similar sentiments apply to engaging in social media or chatting with coworkers.

However, when feeling fatigued and struggling to focus, a brief nap (or another type of short break) can be an effective way to recharge and enhance productivity.

Research indicates that employees tend to perform better when given the opportunity to refresh. A recommended approach is to work for 52 minutes followed by a 17-minute break, which could be an ideal time for a power nap.

If you frequently find yourself struggling to stay awake, it might be beneficial to assess your sleep habits at home or consider seeking a role that aligns better with your energy levels.

Author

Kathy Morris

Kathy is the head of content at Zippia with a knack for engaging audiences. Prior to joining Zippia, Kathy worked at Gateway Blend growing audiences across diverse brands. She graduated from Troy University with a degree in Social Science Education.