There Is a Connection Between Sleep and Productivity

According to The National Sleep Foundation, adults younger than 65 should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night, yet 30% of employed adults report getting less than seven hours, according to a report by StayWell.

 

The firm’s study, Sleep’s Impact on the Modern Workplace, found too little or too much sleep diminishes workplace productivity. Compared to employees who report eight hours of sleep nightly, employees averaging less than five hours of sleep missed approximately 1.5 times more workdays due to illness, and reported 1.9 times higher productivity loss during the workday.

 

Employees averaging 10 or more hours of sleep nightly missed approximated 1.6 times more workdays due to illness, and reported 2.2 times higher productivity loss during the workday.

 

Fifteen percent of survey respondents indicated they almost always feel tired during their working hours. Compared to those employees who feel well-rested, those who almost always feel tired missed approximately 2.7 times more workdays due to illness, and reported 4.4 times higher productivity loss.

 

Employees in their 30s, 40s, and 50s are more likely to average six or fewer hours of sleep nightly. Employees ages 18 to 29 are most likely to get seven hours of sleep, yet report being “quite often” or “almost always” tired during their waking hours.

 

The survey also found that compared to employees who report eight hours of sleep nightly, employees averaging less than five hours of sleep are nearly four times more likely to be stressed. Employees who report they get the recommended seven to nine hours of sleep nightly are 26% less likely to be obese.

 

StayWell analyzed health risk assessment data from nearly 600,000 employees across 66 companies and a dozen industries to accurately determine how strongly sleep is tied to productivity in the modern workplace The full survey report may be downloaded from here.