Friday Funday - 12 Jan

If you're looking for the latest improvement technique, forget business process reengineering or future basing. One local government manager in Thailand seems to have a whole new technique for putting a little extra pep into the workforce. Napping.

A Bangkok municipal office has launched a new program to increase productivity: Lights go out just past noon and civil servants are invited to take an afternoon nap. Seeking to infuse city workers with a bit more pep, the Pathumwan district office in central Bangkok has set up a lunchtime "nap room" with soft music, sweet-smelling flowers and strict rules barring mobile phones and talking, said Surakiet Limcharoen, the district's top official who started the program.

Workers report feeling "fresher and brighter" after the midday snooze.


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