Showering during the day helps productivity

Telegraph (U.K.) ^ | May 18, 2009

[Schnucki]

Showering during the working day helps employees become more productive and more creative, according to a new study.

Four businesses - a restaurant, an architect firm, an advertising agency and a lingerie company - took part in the eight-week study, conducted by PR firm Lucre.

Staff took a shower break in addition to their usual daily wash - and results showed improvement across a range of areas, from mood to productivity.

Employees taking shower breaks at the four businesses - ad agency Home, in Leeds, restaurant The Chancery, in London, architects and designers 3s, in London, and Simone Perele UK, a lingerie company in Surrey - saw an overall increase in productivity and creativity of 42 per cent and 33 per cent respectively.

During a control period of four weeks, staff recorded how they were feeling throughout the working day, Lucre said.

Workers then spent a further month taking a minimum of one shower break a day, while filling in questionnaires rating among other criteria if they felt more productive or creative.

Sam Walsh, an employee at Home who participated in the study, said: "I found that showering gave me some peace and quiet, being away from the ringing phones in the office was great for mulling over ideas.

"I even came up with a great new TV ad idea for one of our clients while I was in there. As well as helping me get a fresh perspective on things, I also found it a great pick-me-up on the days when I felt tired."

Employees generally felt that they had done a better job during the showering phase, with a 16 per cent increase, and 23 per cent felt they were in a better mood.

Nicholas Patterson, general manager of The Chancery, said: "Our hardworking staff members are on

[OCCASparky]

I know I'm a better worker when I don't have to smell some DUmmie reject's body funk.

Wait a second--DUmmies don't have jobs. Silly me, what was I thinking?

[BlueStateBlues]

Every office should have one.

[CholeraJoe]

and 23 per cent felt they were in a better mood.

Well, I guess! Wankers!

[org.whodat]

I've heard the same high praise for nooners!!!

[MAD-AS-HELL]

Showering with that hot female coworker doubles your productivity.

[a fool in paradise]

Once a week would be an improvement for some...

[montomike]

I heard that Al Gore takes up to 10 showers a day and only wears a dress shirt once and can eat a chocolate cake in one gulp while passing through the kitchen on the way to the conference.

[Rebelbase]

I should just wrap my computer and monitor in a clear garbage bag and work in the shower, but there’s that pesky problem with water and electricity.

[aruanan]

Staff took a shower break in addition to their usual daily wash - and results showed improvement across a range of areas, from mood to productivity.

Group showers?

[ConservaTexan]

This explains the slow service at convenience stores.

[rockabyebaby]

LMAO, good stuff!

[DoughtyOne]

Employees generally felt that they had done a better job during the showering phase, with a 16 per cent increase, and 23 per cent felt they were in a better mood.

Employees generally felt that they had not done a better job and 77 per cent felt their mood had not improved.

[SlowBoat407]

I’m in the shower. Let me know when something hugh or series happens.

[Erik Latranyi]

Showering with that hot female coworker doubles your productivity.

Actually, it quadruples your productivity....double for the shower and double for the nooner.

[Hegemony Cricket]

"...77 per cent felt their mood had not improved.

They, unfortunately, got into the show too late to enjoy the benefits of *warm* water...

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[GOPJ]

When teens are going through rapid brain development - they also take marathon showers. Maybe there's a connection.

[theDentist]

Pardon the sexism, but as I have observed on many an occasion, if a woman takes 1 to 2 hours to get ready for dinner (starting with a shower), what makes anyone think they will shower more quickly in the office??? And if you have more than a handful of women, that’s it for the day...

[NautiNurse]

Obama signs executive order for a basketball court and shower in every work place.

[Aggie Mama]

LOL Those must be women with no kids! Most moms I know can be ready in 30 minutes or less.

[TaraP]

Do people now have to be reminded to shower?

Next: Don’t forget to brush your teeth and make sure to wear clean underwear....

Just WOW!

[DoughtyOne]

LOL, nah, I just think they’re hateful right wingers.

[DTogo]

Staff took a shower break in addition to their usual daily wash

What's a "usual daily wash" in the UK? And don't most people shower in the morning before going to work... or not in the UK?

[sazerac]

They probably were more productive because they knew they were being studied.

I could never find time during the day to go take a shower.

[wbill]

I usually get my best ideas when I'm in the shower. This makes sense, sort of.

I'd rather see a "nap time" that's acceptable to the employers, though. 15-20 min in the afternoon would make all the difference in the world, some days.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I’d think the threat of enemas would increase productivity, without the downtime of showering.

[colorado tanker]

and a lingerie company

I volunteer to shower with them.

[Syncro]

In drought areas, it is a must.

[Oldexpat]

Most Brits don’t have a decent shower at home..nor much hot water,,so this is a real perk.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I read about an old law in England which states that the Queen was required to take a bath once a month whether she needs it or not.

[Raycpa]

FR is way ahead of the curve.

[Max in Utah]

I'd rather see a "nap time" that's acceptable to the employers, though. 15-20 min in the afternoon would make all the difference in the world, some days.

You betcha! Some days I'm semi-comatose from about 2 pm to 5 pm. Fifteen winks would go far to clearing that up.

[swmobuffalo]

Nice idea but I’d rather have a nap!