A blog post by Mouvement Santé mentale Québec and Groupe Entreprises en Santé
Mouvement Santé mentale Québec and Groupe Entreprises en Santé have joined forces to highlight organizations that have developed innovative approaches to support employee well-being.
RecharjME is an innovative company whose mission is to improve workers’ mental health by making energizing naps accessible in the workplace.
Why?
During the pandemic, the pace of work slowed down, and the partners began wondering how they could make a positive contribution to their community. They decided to support exhausted hospital employees. The RecharjME team provided two restorative rest cabins to Sainte-Justine University Hospital Centre free of charge for three months.
The response was immediate. In a single day, more than 60 reservations were made through the company’s mobile app. Employees clearly needed opportunities to rest.
Éric Normandeau, co-founder of RecharjME
“We already knew before the coronavirus pandemic that companies were concerned about employee mental health. The spread of the virus and the lockdown only amplified the existing problems.”
Timothée Régnier, former co-founder, adds: “We are very proud to have been able to offer restorative rest to healthcare workers who had not had a break since the beginning of the pandemic. For us, providing our cabins was simply the right and natural thing to do. It is part of our mission to create more caring and supportive workplaces.”
A necessity, not a luxury
For many overworked people, being able to take restorative breaks at work feels like a luxury.
Did you know that 40% of Canadians do not get enough sleep to function at their best during the day?
The two founders of RecharjME explain that taking time to rest during the day is a necessity. Mouvement Santé mentale Québec has also developed resources about the importance of taking breaks at work.
“When I had children, the lack of sleep and our relentless pace of life literally drove me to burnout,” explains Mr. Normandeau. Based on these experiences and observations, and after hearing his partner say upon returning from work, “Today, I would have done anything to take a nap at work!”, he began looking for solutions.
Timothée Régnier, who helped found RecharjME, also struggled with drowsiness before creating the RecharjME cabin. “I have always been somewhat affected by drowsiness, perhaps like everyone else. As a fairly creative person, I wondered how we could solve this problem at work. Falling asleep during a class or meeting is embarrassing. Falling asleep at the wheel is extremely dangerous.”
RecharjME cabins provide a multidimensional restorative experience through several options: napping, guided mindfulness meditation, a heated zero-gravity chair with an integrated massage that creates a floating sensation, as well as aromatherapy and light therapy during the darker winter months. They are equipped with air-purifying filters, UVC technology and disinfecting wipes.
Starting from a personal need, these entrepreneurs developed a solution for the wider community. Whether employees need to recharge, gradually return to work or prevent burnout, RecharjME cabins provide a unique opportunity to take a restorative break in the workplace.
Written by Mouvement Santé mentale Québec