Sleep Matters: Strategies to support your workforce
While we are beginning to understand more about the importance of sleep on overall health and wellness, almost half of corporate employees in Ireland are reporting that their sleep is poor. Our insights show that 51% of employees reported they are extremely dissatisfied with their sleep, and 34% of them achieve less than 7 hours of sleep on weeknights.
While it may not be the first thing employers recognise as a workplace issue, the lack of sleep can impact an employee's ability to be productive and effective at work.
75% of employees report feeling tired, fatigued or not up to par at work several times a month or more because of poor sleep. 13% told us they feel like this every day.
The effects of sleep deprivation on employees
The effects of sleep and sleep deprivation are being more widely acknowledged. This is due, in part, to a rise in people using wearable technology to track and monitor sleep. Our insights show that 51% of employees wear an activity tracker. As knowledge grows around the benefits of a good night’s sleep, we’ve looked into the harmful effects of sleep deprivation that employees are experiencing.
Short-term effects can include feeling tired, distracted, and irritable. According to our research, 30% of employees said they made mistakes at work because of poor sleep, 31% said they had been irritable with people at work and 59% said they were too tired when they came home from work to do household chores. Over time, sleep disruption can have profound consequences on an employee’s health.
Sleep and stress
Our research also highlighted a correlation between stress and bad habits around sleep. 53% of employees report staying up later than planned on weeknights. However, this increases to 68% amongst those who identified their lives as being very or extremely stressful. In fact, of this ‘high stress’ group, 29% report that they stay up later than planned almost every night in comparison with only 10% of employees who identified as having low stress.
The effects of sleep deprivation can have a wide-reaching impact on your company, both in how an employee works but also how they interact with their colleagues. 75% of employees feel fatigued, tired or not up to par at work several times a month or more. This impacts productivity and effectiveness and therefore highlights a need for you to consider what support you can put into place to help employees and managers deal with this.
Getting natural light in the morning can help you sleep better at night.
Natural light first thing in the morning gives you a surge in cortisol levels, making you alert and awake. It also supresses melatonin, the sleep hormone, and sets your body clock resulting in more alertness throughout the day and more restful sleep at night.
How you can support your workforce
Our experts have suggested several initiatives that you can implement to help improve the sleep quality and knock-on effects of sleep deprivation for your employees.
Raise awareness
Raise awareness of the importance of sleep. 55% of employees expressed an interest in advice on healthy sleep. Host seminars and talks, provide advice on good sleep habits and offer tools such as mindfulness apps that offer meditation for sleep that the employee can use daily.
Provide training
Provide training for supervisors and managers to set clear work boundaries, preventing work from interfering with personal time and sleep.
Offer flexible working
Offer flexible working arrangements, considering naps as an accepted part of high-performing teams, allowing employees to catch up on sleep when needed.
Encourage switching off
Encourage switching off work devices outside of core working hours. According to our research, 61% of employees check their email as soon as they wake up in the morning, and 45% say it is the last thing they do before going to bed at night.
Vhi supports and how we can help you*
We believe that understanding the importance of sleep and supporting employees to get enough sleep can help to create a supportive, happy work environment, while also supporting workplace productivity.
Mindfulness and Meditation Apps
Access sleep supports like daily meditations and sleep stories with €30 off an annual subscription to Headspace or Calm apps.
Better Sleep Programme
Designed to help employee's improve sleep, this 12-week programme is available through the Vhi Wellness Portal. Talk to your account lead to learn more.
Talks and Seminars
We offer a variety of employee talks with sleep experts across a range of sleep topics. Talk to your account lead to learn more.
Sleep Benefits
We provide cover towards consultant and paediatrician visits specialising in sleep. Check the Table of Benefits to learn more.
Vhi Verified Health Blog
Share our expert health advice on sleep, including how our internal clock imapacts our work.
Alternative and Complementary Therapy
Many of our plans offer cover towards therapies like acupuncture and reflexology. Check the Table of Benefits to learn more.
*Please note some services and benefits are plan dependent.
Vhi Healthcare DAC trading as Vhi Healthcare is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland.
Vhi Healthcare is tied to Vhi Insurance DAC for health insurance in Ireland which is underwritten by Vhi Insurance DAC.
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