Paid siesta

Gennady Onishchenko called for introducing elements of Mediterranean culture into Russia

Chief State Sanitary Doctor Gennady Onishchenkonot only fights wine merchants from unfriendly countries, but also gives Russians useful advice, in particular, explains how to survive the abnormal summer heat without harm to health. Yesterday, the head of Rospotrebnadzor called on employers to introduce a siesta at their enterprises - a long break during the daytime, which has long been common practice in countries with hot climates. “Employers and those who protect workers' rights, where possible and necessary, should consider changing work schedules. Taking into account the heat, work activity can be moved to earlier or later times, and at the peak of the heat, when the sun is at its hottest, you can take an extended break,” Interfax quotes Mr. Onishchenko as saying. However, the chief sanitary doctor did not specify how much daytime rest should be increased. It is known that the “classic” siesta lasts about three hours - from noon to 15.00. But the initiative of the head of Rospotrebnadzor has already been taken up by his colleagues from the regions. For example, the chief sanitary doctor for the Pskov region, Alexander Nesteruk, emphasized that employers should, if possible, provide optimal working conditions, especially for those who are engaged in heavy physical work “in the fresh air.”

48% of working Muscovites surveyed by the recruiting agency SuperJob.ru are ready to support Gennady Onishchenko’s proposal. A quick survey conducted on Monday (and yesterday the thermometer in the capital showed an average of +30) indicates that the majority of 2 thousand respondents would advise their bosses to reconsider their work schedule. “It’s difficult to work in such weather - the body cannot withstand the stress. We don’t even have air conditioning... Five people are sitting in a small room... But we’re still working, and what else can we do,” complained the survey participants. Some suggested not extending the lunch break, but moving the start of the working day two hours earlier. At the same time, 39% of respondents - as a rule, people working in air-conditioned offices - do not see the need for a siesta. The vast majority of respondents (79%) reported that the heat had no impact on their work schedule.

Even if the employer shows good will and grants employees the right to a 3- to 4-hour siesta, this will be a violation of the current Labor Code, Elena Gerasimova, director of the Center for Social and Labor Rights, explained to Vremya Novostey. “According to Russian legislation, an employee must be given a break during the day for rest and food lasting no more than two hours, but not less than 30 minutes,” Ms. Gerasimova recalled, adding that any change in the duration of the break is possible only by agreement with the employee . “The actual consent of the employee must be obtained to establish an earlier start or later end of working hours - so that this change is truly beneficial,” explained the head of the Center for Social and Labor Rights. “In addition, such a change must be regulated by additional agreements to the employment contract signed by the employee.”

In the absence of a siesta, citizens at their workplaces have to save themselves with the help of artificial cooling, which, as the chief sanitary doctor of Russia reminded, is fraught with colds. “People come from the heat into rooms where air conditioners are running at full power, there is a sharp change in temperature - and they get sick. The use of air conditioners should be restrained and reasonable,” urged Gennady Onishchenko. Traditional ways of dealing with the heat - cold drinks and ice cream - are not the best way out. “Anything cold must be handled with care. If you came home after a hot street, took a bottle of water from the refrigerator and drank it in one gulp, then I guarantee you that in any state of health, by the evening you will get a sore throat, or even a sore throat,” warned Mr. Onishchenko. You need to drink more, but not cold water. “Personally, I drink hot tea, it’s more correct,” said the head of Rospotrebnadzor.

Onishchenko noted that doctors consider the belief that if you spend the whole day on the beach, you will escape the heat, to be very controversial. On the contrary, in this case, “overheating in the sun, skin burns and the risk of complications due to being in water that does not meet sanitary standards are likely.” We also note that, according to statistics from the Ministry of Emergency Situations, last month was a record month for deaths in the capital’s water bodies. Since the beginning of the swimming season, 74 people have died in the city, and in Russia in June alone - 1.2 thousand, which is twice as many as in 2009. Last Sunday, about 15 people drowned in the Moscow River and other bodies of water in the capital.

It is necessary to minimize exposure to the open air, under direct exposure to the sun, emphasizes the chief sanitary doctor of Russia Gennady Onishchenko. But the best way to prevent cardiovascular diseases in the summer season may be the same siesta, or rather, a short nap during the day. In any case, this opinion is shared by scientists from the University of Athens, who conducted a study several years ago of 20 thousand of their compatriots aged from 20 to 86 years. It turned out that among Greeks who sleep during the day for half an hour at least three times a week, the risk of heart attack is reduced by 37%.

Mikhail MOSHKIN