Almost one in six workers fall say they are so tired at work they fall asleep at their desks at least once a week, a study has revealed.
The survey, conducted by Virgin Pulse - an employee wellness company in Massachusetts - questioned 1,140 employees across the USA.
The results showed 76 per cent of workers felt tired almost ever day of the week, while 30 per cent of employees are unhappy or very unhappy with the quality or quantity of their sleep.
Some 15 per cent of workers fall asleep in the office at least once a week
The results also showed that the main thing keeping people awake at night is the temperature in their room with 85 per cent of participants saying this was a problem.
Some 72 per cent said their partner kept them awake, while 69 per cent blamed unwanted noise.
The room being too light was a problem for 53 per cent of people, while 40 per cent said their mattress was too uncomfortable to allow them to sleep well.
Dr Jennifer Turgiss, a co-author of the study and director of the Virgin Pulse Institute, said, ‘Showing up to work sleep deprived can be the equivalent of showing up to work intoxicated.
‘Employees who don’t sleep well have poorer concentration, poorer decision making abilities, are significantly less able to cope with stressful situations, and are more likely to make unhealthy choices.
About 30 per cent of workers say they are not happy with the amount of sleep they get
‘The effects of poor sleep impair people’s focus and motivation, preventing them from reaching their full potential.
‘In attempts to encourage employees to live healthier, often employers – with the help of their health insurers or wellness vendors –focus on simply improving diet and exercise, but this approach ignores one critically important habit: sleep.
‘With its direct link to dangerous health conditions and steep productivity losses, a well-rested workforce is critical to a company’s success.’
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has called lack of sleep ‘an epidemic,’ linking it to car crashes, industrial disasters and other occupational errors.
Many other studies have also found employees who sleep for fewer than six hours a day are nearly 30 per cent more likely to be overweight and have a whole host of health problems like hypertension, diabetes, depression and cancer.
These people also take a tremendous cognitive hit on a daily basis – finding it difficult to concentrate at work or complete tasks, resulting in significantly lower productivity.
Dr Turgiss added: ‘Our study made one thing clear - lack of sleep is crippling America’s workforce.
‘Employers can’t turn a blind eye. Whether they offer an online sleep programme, encourage employees to use vacation days, or provide other tools, employers must address sleep issues in order to create a thriving workforce and business.
‘Not only will employees be more rested, but they’ll feel more supported by their employers, helping them perform better and become better able to engage in work and in life.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2613307/How-tired-YOU-work-One-six-workers-fall-asleep-desk-week.html#ixzz2zvmfnLJb
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