Decryption. The Minister of Health advocates napping in the workplace: why it's still "frowned upon"

Even the Minister of Health is defending it: during a presentation on French sleep, Yannick Neuder said Tuesday that he was "very much in favor of napping in general, including within companies." However, the ministry is not planning any specific measures to encourage employers to set up spaces for these "extremely important rest periods."

"It's not about imposing measures that would be unfeasible in some companies, but I believe that in the context of CSR (corporate social responsibility) and well-being at work, many companies have already thought about these issues and are proposing them," said Yannick Neuder. The issue is, however, one of public health, given that the French sleep an average of 1.5 hours less than they did 50 years ago.

It's not certain that the minister's encouragement will be enough to amplify the movement in the workplace. While the practice is certainly less and less taboo , for now, only a few companies—often multinationals (Google, Nike, Orange, Renault, Apple, etc.)—or start-ups like Wopilo have set up dedicated spaces in France.

"We're still 90% in France in a presenteeism mode," analyzes Franck Pagny, founder of the consulting firm "Vivement lundi" for pleasure at work. "Taking a nap during the workday is rather frowned upon. There's the idea that when you're at work, it's to work, just as the later you stay at the office in the evening, the more you're recognized."

Yet, scientific literature is rife with studies showing that napping is widely beneficial. The Institute of Sleep and Vigilance , which notes that half of French people nap at least once a week, emphasizes its positive effects on memory and concentration.

For Franck Pagny, who naps regularly, it doesn't have to last 20 minutes: "You can take a five-minute micro-nap in your chair," he adds, also recommending taking your eyes off your screen every 25 minutes. At least, for employees who can. "It's a luxury that service sector employees have," he acknowledges. But a neglected luxury.

Yet, for them at least, the practice could be growing. First of all, even though it's sometimes called into question, teleworking is considered a given. This leads to the possibility of a real " power-nap " - or micro-nap. "Some do it but don't necessarily say so," emphasizes Franck Pagny. Furthermore, "young people are much more open" to this practice, "Generation Z wants to work in better conditions than their elders," points out the consultant. So, should we take it easy for five minutes?