'Sleep deprivation is a public health epidemic that is often unrecognised, under-reported, and can lead to high economic costs'
Employers should take immediate steps to prioritise employee sleep health, according to one expert.
Resmed’s 2025 Global Sleep Survey found that people experience excessive daytime sleepiness (51%), poor mood (48%), and an inability to concentrate (31%) after a poor night of sleep.
“Bringing this into a workplace setting—without adequate sleep, workers are more prone to burnout, errors, and health issues that ultimately impact productivity and well-being,” says Dr. Alison Wimms, director of medical affairs at Resmed, in talking with Human Resources Director Asia.
Wimms notes that quality sleep is defined by “being able to fall asleep within 30 minutes after getting into bed, sleeping through the night for the recommended number of hours, and—most importantly—feeling rested, restored, and energised when you wake up in the morning.”
However, Resmed found that 71% of employed respondents globally have called in sick due to poor sleep at least once in their careers. The highest rates were reported in India (94%), followed by China (78%), Singapore (73%), and the United States (70%).
According to Resmed’s December 2024 survey of 30,026 people across 13 countries— including 1,000 respondents in Singapore—Singaporeans experience higher levels of stress-related sleep issues than many other countries.
Among Singapore respondents, 65% say stress was a major factor disrupting their sleep, compared to the global average of 57%.
Also, 51% cite anxiety as a cause of sleeplessness and 35% report financial concerns affecting their sleep.
Sleep apnoea is another contributor that affects 1 in 3 people in Singapore, and nearly 1 billion worldwide, notes Wimms.
“However, many don’t even realise that they have it,” she says.
“People with sleep apnoea experience multiple stops and starts of breathing due to the muscles in the upper airway relaxing and closing during sleep. The brain wakes the body slightly to reopen the airway, disrupting deep sleep and increasing stress on the heart. Common symptoms can include snoring, gasping for air during sleep, and excessive daytime sleepiness. Over time, this can raise the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, and cognitive decline.”
This sleeping problem “can create ripples of disruption, impacting productivity, team morale and on a tactical level, project deadlines,” says Wimms.
She also notes that despite the high number of workers calling in sick due to poor sleep, “nearly half of employed respondents believe that their employer does not care about their sleep health.” says Wimms.
“This disconnect can erode employee engagement as a tired workforce is less likely to feel connected to their work, reducing innovation, collaboration and overall job satisfaction which contributes to higher turnover rates.”
Organisations across the world face the risk of a leadership exodus in the wake of rising stress among leaders due to time scarcity, according to the Global Leadership Forecast 2025 from DDI.
“Sleep deprivation is considered a public health epidemic that is often unrecognised, under-reported, and can lead to high economic costs,” says Wimms.
Employers can address this issue by “making good sleep health a priority, not a luxury,” she says.
Wimms says that employers can do this by:
“At the same time, for those who are suffering from poor sleep, action is key. Particularly as our survey found that 22% of people who are experiencing poor sleep would make a decision to just live with it,” she says.
“Whether speaking to their healthcare provider, or, if they think they are suffering from symptoms of sleep apnoea, taking an online sleep assessment, prioritising good sleep needs to be ingrained in the workplace and not an option.”
Singapore workers are the least likely in Southeast Asia to prioritise mental health benefits when considering new roles, despite feeling the most unsupported in this area, according to a previous report.
