Sleeping on duty may either occur unintentionally where an employee drowses or dozes off due to sedative medication or long hours of sitting. However, sleeping on duty may also occur intentionally where an employee went to hide away or re-arranged chairs in order to make a temporary bed.
Employers are always urged to have a policy in place that addresses sleeping on duty and applying progressive discipline as far as possible.
If an employer has a suspicion that an employee is sleeping on duty, the employer should ensure that enough evidence is obtained by doing the following:
- Always ensure that at least one witness is present who can testify at the disciplinary hearing that the employee was caught sleeping whilst on duty;
- To ensure that cameras are installed in the guard room alternatively to video record the employee who is sleeping on duty;
- Detailed notes of how the employee reacted after calling the employee’s name;
- Detailed notes of the surroundings of where the employee was caught sleeping as well as any objects that were used in order for the employee to be more comfortable, e.g. building of temporary beds or sitting in a room with the lights off; and
- The position in which the employee was caught sleeping.
Employers are furthermore advised to ensure that they adhere to statutory requirements of the Basic Conditions of Employment Act by allowing sufficient rest periods or time off in between the start and end of shifts.