Do you have employees who seem to be off their game at work? Perhaps you’ve noticed reduced productivity, a lack of focus, or low energy that results in errors or unfinished tasks. They may be suffering from burnout, not because of what happens when they’re on the job, but when they’re off the clock. How they sleep during the night determines how they’ll perform during the day.
In a study of 300 healthcare workers, researchers found that people who slept less than seven hours a night had a higher probability of burnout at work, according to a recent report in the journal Frontiers in Public Health. The study authors called strategies for improved sleep quality, as well as better work-life balance and stress management, an “urgent need.”
As an employer, you are in a prime position to help meet that need with workplace wellness initiatives. And employees can do their part, too, by creating a healthy sleep environment at home that promotes a good night’s rest.
Bad Sleep: Bad for Health (and for Business)
A chronic lack of sleep, caused by conditions such as apnea or insomnia, medications, poor health habits, or other factors, can’t be solved with an extra cup of coffee (or three) in the morning. Sleep deprivation can take a toll on a person’s well-being, and that bleeds into all areas of their life, including their career.
According to the Harvard Medical School Division of Sleep Medicine, poor sleep can have a negative impact:
- Physically
- Fatigue
- Higher risk of long-term health issues (high blood pressure, heart disease)
- Obesity
- Reduced immune function
- Mentally
- Difficulty focusing or concentrating
- Bad moods
- Problems with learning or memory
- Increased feelings of stress, anxiety, or depression
And those issues can have serious consequences in the workplace. Impaired cognitive ability may lead employees to forget key information for a presentation, or have difficulty completing meeting deadlines because they can’t focus. Fatigue slows down one team member, which can reduce everyone’s productivity. Or perhaps that person is too tired to clock in, resulting in higher rates of absenteeism that also affects workflows. And most alarming, poor judgment can raise the risk of workplace accidents that can cause grave harm.
What You Can Do to Help
The good news is, as an employer you can help promote healthy sleep habits within your company. A study in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine suggested that employer initiatives could help improve issues with sleep duration and sleep quality.
The report recommended several workplace measures that could be adopted, including:
- Employee sleep education programs
- Short nap breaks during the workday
- Access to sleep centers or specialized healthcare providers
- Limits on total hours worked per day and per week
- Fatigue risk management plans
As part of your workplace efforts, you can also encourage your employees to practice smart sleep hygiene at home.
Making Good Sleep a Priority
Educating your employees on healthy sleep habits can help set them up for success. They can follow simple recommendations, such as these tips from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Block noise and light to create a dark space
- Maintain a comfortable temperature in the bedroom
- Avoid electronics right before bedtime
- Don’t eat big meals in the two to three hours before you go to sleep
- Don’t have alcohol or caffeine in the evening
- Set consistent sleep and wake times to establish a consistent routine
- Exercise during the day (but not close to bedtime)
It’s also important to create an environment that promotes rest and relaxation. And that starts with the right bed. Choosing the right mattress that suits your sleep style and firmness preference is the foundation for a peaceful night of rest. Select a mattress option engineered for maximum support and pressure relief—seen in options like Tempur-Pedic mattresses designed for deeper, more restorative sleep—which can significantly impact how well the body and mind recover overnight.
If you’re seeing signs of burnout among your employees, be proactive and don’t wait to see if things get better. Integrating simple wellness strategies at work, and encouraging employees to be vigilant about their sleep at home, will put your team on track to feel ready and rested when they come to work every day.
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