Is your workforce getting enough shut-eye?

Not getting enough sleep is a big contributor to increased stress at work

BY HRD 18 Aug 2018

A lack of sleep is having a major impact on performance at work and overall wellbeing, according to new data from more than 8,800 participants from WorkScore.com.au.

Indeed, the data shows that nearly 40% of employees aren’t getting enough sleep and that it’s clear that productivity is being impacted.

WorkScore data shows that employees who sleep the recommended seven to nine hours per night:

Score 25% higher for overall wellbeing
Find it 35% easier to switch off from work
Rate their work/life balance the highest
Report the highest flexibility at work
Have 25% more energy

Suzanne Deeming, co-founder of WorkScore, said it’s widely accepted that the average person needs somewhere between seven to nine hours sleep per night for overall physical and mental wellbeing.

However, not getting enough sleep is a big contributor to increased stress at work. “Employees who sleep less than seven hours per night are 23% more stressed, while those who sleep less than five hours per night rate work 17% more stressful” noted Suzanne Deeming.

But more sleep doesn’t always mean better wellbeing and performance. For the one per cent of people who sleep 10 hours or more per night report they have 50% less energy than those who sleep seven to nine hours per night.

Interestingly, they also report having less energy and concentration than those who sleep less than five hours.

“So, when it comes to sleep, it’s important to get enough, but it’s also important not to get too much. Like so many things in life, it’s all about getting the balance right,” said Deeming.

There’s also a high correlation between those people who get the recommended amount of sleep and how they rate their workplace as caring about their wellbeing.

“Employers can help improve what happens after hours by promoting the right for employees to disconnect by reducing or even banning work communication after business hours,” said Deeming.

“They should also encourage employees to take regular breaks during the work day and to make time for a lunch break.”

Moreover, a study last year by the Australian National University found the vast majority of employees don’t have enough time to carry out the four major protective health activities, including eating well, restorative sleep, physical activity and social connection.

Moreover, the ANU study stated: "When time was scarce, time spent on healthy behaviours was frequently shortened or abandoned".

In a separate report, the ANU also found that people who work more than 39 hours a week are putting their health at risk. It found about two in three Australians in full-time employment worked more than 40 hours a week, with long hours a bigger problem for women who do more unpaid work at home.