Sleeper in the office..

HELP!

One of my employees seems to be a narcolept (sp?)

He falls asleep at his desk for about 5-10 mins a day and he snores!!!

When I first started my boss warned me about it, but was confused as to what to do because he gets all his work done and is all around a good employee. My boss has confronted him about it twice, telling him to go to the doctor and that he has a problem, but the employee has denied this My boss, since no longer in the position has has now left the decision making up to me.

I have yet to say anything to him yet because I am only his boss for a few months.

Additionally, I feel bad because if he is in fact diagnosed with narcolepsy when he goes to the doctor, I feel they will take his driver's license away and then how will he get to work?

We just hired a new accountant who works in the cubicle next to him. I figured when she came to me and told me that she saw him/ heard him sleeping, then I would say something.

Well, she came into my office last night and told me she caught him three times sleeping and snoring.

The other employees know about this and laugh it off.

now, my question is, what do I say to him when I call him into my office today

(I caught him sleeping twice in 3.5 months, but I havent been looking to catch him)

Sorry so long but I appreciate your input!!!

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I would write down all your thoughts in bullet points and then address him

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Re: Sleeper in the office..

I think first inform yourself on narcolepsy, check out both the NIH page on narcolepsy
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/narcolepsy/narcolepsy.htm

and the Narcolepsy Network
http://www.narcolepsynetwork.org/index.php

I just glanced at these quickly, but there are a number of drugs that can, while not cure the disease, at least manage the symptoms, including the complete loss of motor function that you see on tv depictions of narcolepsy. There is also advice on how to minimize these symptoms by taking scheduled naps when they're tired, etc. And yes, it looks like many times if you are found to be narcoleptic you may lose your liscense, but it can depend on how bad it is and you may be able to get a doctor to sign off and say it's ok to drive. But as others said above, if he shouldn't be driving, he shouldn't be driving, it wouldn't be safe. Maybe there is someone who lives near him that he can carpool with, or a relative who can drive him, or public transportation nearby?

Then I suggest giving him this info when you talk to him, telling him you're concerned not only for his work but for his health and safety, and that you must ask that he gets evaluated and treated.

I don't know mcuh about this but maybe you should also talk to your HR department to see if you can require him to get treated.

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I would not try to diagnose him. I would just say that this is not acceptable, and if he needs to see a doctor, he needs to do that, but if not, then this behavior cannot continue.

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I would ask HR first.

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I doubt that he is truly narcoleptic. That means he would fall asleep while walking, while running, and especially while excited or laughing. I saw a dog with it once, and he literally collapsed while running.

That said, I fall asleep at work at least once a week. I don't snore, luckily. I'm just a sleepy person. I'd just tell him that it is bothersome to others and he needs to seek out remedies to fix the situation.

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Re: Sleeper in the office..

Posted by leighla

Posted by angnick

Posted by dita

I would ask HR first.

We did ask hr and they said it is up to us. Since his work is getting done, there is not much we can do.

we have even offered him another office to go for 20 mins a day and take a nap, which he hasnt done!

So then they would be okay with all your employees taking naps as long as the work is getting done?

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It doesn't matter how long you've been his boss - you ARE his boss and he's falling asleep on the job. I'd confront him about it. If he really is narcoleptic (and it doesn't sound to me like he is), then it's important that he's disagnosed AND important that his driver's license is taken away. He could kill someone if he falls asleep at the wheel.

Sometimes being the boss means being unpopular with the employees, but if someone who worked for me was falling asleep on the job, and it happened more than once, you can be we'd have a discussion about it.

And while he may be getting his work done, it's ENTIRELY unprofessional to be sleeping at your desk. Snoring is annoying to other employees, and allowing someone to sleep at his desk has a tendency to lower morale around the office...

IMHO, if he gets all his work done and has time to nap, then he needs more work to do.

Message edited 10/10/2007 10:49:02 AM.

Re: Sleeper in the office..

Posted by leighla

Posted by angnick

Posted by dita

I would ask HR first.

We did ask hr and they said it is up to us. Since his work is getting done, there is not much we can do.

we have even offered him another office to go for 20 mins a day and take a nap, which he hasnt done!

So then they would be okay with all your employees taking naps as long as the work is getting done?

Re: Sleeper in the office..

Posted by nov04libride

Posted by leighla

Posted by angnick

Posted by dita

I would ask HR first.

We did ask hr and they said it is up to us. Since his work is getting done, there is not much we can do.

we have even offered him another office to go for 20 mins a day and take a nap, which he hasnt done!

So then they would be okay with all your employees taking naps as long as the work is getting done?

In my office (and union), so long as our work is done, they can't complain.

Does he fall asleep in meetings?

Re: Sleeper in the office..

I think you need to answer the question:

What do you want to achieve?
Do you want to terminate him?

He's already been encouraged to seek help & refused. (document that)

He's not going to suddenly stop sleeping at his desk.

Personally I would speak to him one more time & put him on probation. I would tell him that you have a zero policy on sleeping on the job. If he needs to see a doctor & get a note documenting a medical issue, you will check with HR to see if you can reasonably accomodate it.

If he's getting his work done in such a short time, maybe he needs a different role to occupy his time.

Message edited 10/10/2007 10:55:59 AM.

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Message edited 10/10/2007 11:27:22 AM.

Re: Sleeper in the office..

its not that i dont want to talk to him, I'm having this conversation with you guys now in preparation for my conversation with him later.

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I have a close friend who's been diagnosed with narcolepsy. She is on medication to control it, and is able to have a driver's license. It doesn't interfere with her life much at all anymore, so I wouldn't hold off on speaking to the guy based on that.

Contrary to popular belief, NOT all narcoleptics fall asleep in the middle of doing active things (running, laughing, etc.) There are several different manifestations of the disease.

Is it possible that he hasn't sought treatment because he doesn't realize he fell asleep? If so, he really should get checked out by a doctor. Who knows where else he falls asleep (in the car, while walking down stairs, with a pot on the stove...)?! If I were his boss, as uncomfortable a conversation as it might be, I'd be concerned about his welfare and have to at least try once to bring it to his attention and suggest medical intervention.

Re: Sleeper in the office..

he may have sleep apnea so he's tired during the day because he's not getting sleep at night.

Either way, be straight forward and direct. Ask him to put himself in your shoes. How is it acceptable to allow an employee to sleep on company time? Also, let him know that your conversation will be kept confidential. If you open the door, he may be open to discussing it with you further. He may have a problem and is embarassed by it. He may also not give a crap about it since it's been tolerated for so ling. Let him know that it's not fair to other employees. No place of employment would allow an employee to sleep on company time. If he cannot stay awake for the work day, then he needs to address why.

I also agree that if he is able to get his work done and take snoozes a few times a day, he is not busy enough.