Are You A 'Desk Dozer'?

Main Category: Flu / Cold / SARS
Article Date: 24 Nov 2007 - 0:00 PST

email to a friend   printer friendly   view / write opinions   rate article

Lemsip Max Day & Night reveals 242 million working hours lost due to bed-headed workers clocking-on but dozing off (1) 'Snoozebuttonitis' affects two thirds of cold suffering workers (2)

The Nation's Top 10 'Groggy Gremlins' uncovered

An estimated 242 million working hours will be lost this winter due to 'desk dozing' employees full of cold and flu symptoms, who willingly clock-on for work but are anything but productive, thanks to a poor night's sleep and a groggy head, a new study published reveals(2).

Eyes Wide Shut

The research from Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Flu Relief Capsules has found that almost a third of employees (32%)(2) admit to trying to look busy when full of cold at work but not really getting any work done. One in five (20%)(2) spend at least the first two hours of the working day doing very little and one in six (13%)(2) take an extra half hour checking emails. Hourly trips to the canteen to make cups of tea or coffee is a necessary pick me up for one in five (21%)(2) workers, and of those that do make an attempt to work, 40%2 find they can't concentrate on the job in hand.

Popular 'desk dozer' pastimes include day-dreaming (40%)(2), almost one in 10 (8%)(2) surf the Internet to try and get 're-focused' and 7%(2) find themselves taking refuge in the toilets for a quarter of an hour at a time.

Late Arrivals

Hats off, however to those workers who arrive on time - albeit in a daze - as the research from Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Flu Relief Capsules found, one in five employees (20%)(2) admit to being anything up to an hour late for work often sleeping in when they have a cold. A quarter sleep through their alarm (25%)(2). Indeed, nearly two thirds could be said to be suffering from 'snoozebuttonitis', admitting to hitting the snooze button up to three times before struggling out of bed (57%)(2). Commented Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Flu Relief Capsules Senior Brand Manager, Vishal Kalia: "You've got to admire people who struggle into work when they've got a cold - it can be really rough. And as our research shows, trying to be alert and fully functioning can be particularly hard if you've not managed to get a good night's sleep thanks to your symptoms.

"Cold and flu sufferers who battle in to work often take over the counter remedies with sedatives to help ease their symptoms at night in the hope they can get a good night's sleep in preparation for the day ahead. However, they can often wake in the morning still feeling groggy(2). Getting up and getting going seems to take a lot longer and every day tasks become a chore as people feel drained and lacking in energy. "At Lemsip, we've developed Max Day & Night Cold & Flu Relief Capsules to help tackle the symptoms of cold and flu, providing tailored relief appropriate for day and night time. A combination of day time capsules for effective symptom relief, plus an energising caffeine boost, help people keep going when they need it most, and night time capsules to provide effective symptom relief and help allow a good night's sleep through relief of nasal congestion, so sufferers wake up refreshed the next morning."

Groggy Gremlins Hamper Morning Routine

The Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Fly Relief Capsules research also revealed some bizarre 'groggy gremlins' tripping up half asleep cold and flu sufferers as they battled to cope with getting ready for work. Forgetfulness ranked highly among nearly half of 'bed heads'. Examples include getting to the fridge and forgetting what the trip was for (41%)(2); stepping on the bus and realising they've forgotten their purse or wallet (23%)(2); being locked out because they've forgotten the house keys (13%)(2); and for one in ten people, realising that the rush to get ready has resulted in them wearing their underwear inside out (10%)(2).

The top ten of Groggy Gremlins for bed-headed cold and flu sufferers:

1. Forgetfulness when preparing breakfast - going to the fridge and struggling to remember why
2. Being late for work
3. Forgetting a bag, purse or wallet
4. Being locked out of the house after forgetting keys
5. Wearing underwear inside out
6. Wearing odd shoes or socks
7. Forgetting to wear normal jewellery
8. Getting the kids to school late
9. Pouring fruit juice in tea or coffee, or on cereal by mistake
10. Setting a new trend and arriving at work in slippers

Available in packs of 8 and 16 capsules, Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Flu Relief Capsules provide symptomatic relief from cold and flu. The daytime capsules help relieve your cold and flu symptoms and contain caffeine to help keep you going. The night time capsules help relieve cold and flu symptoms and help aid sleep through relief of nasal congestion. Always read the leaflet. Contains Paracetamol.

For more information on Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Flu Capsules please visit http://www.lemsip.com

Notes:

¹ Hypothetical calculation based on the working hours lost per worker who comes in to work with a cold multiplied by the average number of colds an adult in the UK catches each cold and flu season - as revealed by the survey conducted by TNS (September 2007) using a nationally representative sample of 1,000 working adults.

2 Survey conducted by TNS (September 2007) using a nationally representative sample of 1,000 working adults.

Product Specification:

Lemsip Max Day & Night Cold & Flu Relief Capsules, produced by Reckitt Benckiser, contain:

Day Capsule: 500mg Paracetamol (Analgesic) for the relief of headaches, sore throat, fever and, body aches and pains; 6.1mg of Phenylephrine hydrochloride (Decongestant) which treats blocked or runny noses; and 25mg Caffeine (mild stimulant) to help relieve lethargy, sluggishness and fatigue.

Night Capsule: 500mg Paracetamol (Analgesic) for the relief of headaches, sore throat, fever and, body aches and pains and 6.1mg of Phenylephrine hydrochloride (Decongestant) which treats blocked or runny noses.
Both capsules contain tartrazine (E102)

Directions for use:

How to take: The capsules should be swallowed whole with water. Do not chew.

How much to take: Adults and adolescents over 12 years: Two Day capsules to be taken every 4 hours during the day (no more than six Day capsules in 24 hours). Two Night capsules to be taken at night. Children 6-12 years: One Day capsule to be taken every 4 hours during the day (no more than three Day capsules in 24 hours). One Night capsule to be taken at night. Do not give to children under 6 years.

http://www.lemsip.com