The importance of sleep: A wake-up call for employers

How well are your employees performing today? Whether they’re smashing targets or slumping at their desk may depend on how well they slept last night. That’s because studies have shown people who sleep just 5-6 hours a night are 19% less productive than people who sleep the recommended amount of 7-8 hours a night. And those who only manage 5 hours a night are actually 29% less productive. If those statistics have given you a wake-up call (pun intended!) to promote better sleep habits amongst your staff, read on for some simple suggestions from the Occupational Health experts at YourGP.

The wide-ranging effects of poor sleep

We all know from experience that a poor night’s sleep can leave you feeling irritable the next day. It can also affect your concentration, which not only could affect your ability to carry out your work duties, but could also pose a potential health and safety risk to you and those around you, especially if you work in a hazardous environment.

When getting insufficient sleep becomes a habit, it can have serious and wide-ranging long-term consequences for your health. From poor mental health and an impact on fertility, to decreased immunity and an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

It is therefore essential that employees are mindful of the need to promote good sleep hygiene, especially if your place of work requires staff to work early shifts, nightshifts or attend events in the evening, for example.

10 ways to promote good sleep hygiene

It makes sound business sense to give your employees the best chance of a productive day at work by doing all you can to ensure they get a good night’s sleep at home. Here’s how you can help:

1. Maximise natural light: Natural light can help to regulate your circadian rhythm, which can lead to better sleep, so ensure window blinds are fully open in the office and where possible, situate desks near windows so employees can make the most of the natural light.
2. Head outside: Encourage staff to head outside to make the most of that natural light and top up their vitamin D levels. Create an outdoor seating area for staff to use during breaks, or take meetings out of the boardroom and into the great outdoors.
3. Be aware of the impact of stress: Be mindful that stress can have a big impact on sleep quality. Check in with all staff on a regular basis to ensure their workloads are manageable and respond to any potential triggers before they have a chance to escalate.
4. Be respectful of the boundaries of working hours: Don’t email staff out of hours. Even if you don’t expect staff members to reply to the email until the next day, seeing notifications pop up on a phone can be disruptive to their rest. Staff need to mentally ‘switch off’ at night, not be tempted to scroll through work emails in bed.
5. Actively encourage a healthy work / life balance: Having interests outside of work is an effective way to cut down on work-related rumination, meaning they’re less likely to dwell on work worries in bed when they should be dozing off.
6. Be flexible: Remote or hybrid working is a great way to cut down commuting time, giving staff more opportunity to rest.
7. Increase awareness: Educate your team about the basics of good sleep habits such as cutting out caffeine and screentime before bed, and making sure their bedroom is dark, cool and comfortable.
8. Encourage healthy habits: Diet and exercise can have a big impact on sleep, so think about staff perks – could you offer discounted gym membership? Or swap the staff room biscuits for fresh fruit and invest in a smoothie maker, for example?
9. Look out for telltale signs of sleep deprivation: Key symptoms include difficulty concentrating, mood swings, frequent mistakes and increased absence. If you suspect someone is struggling with their sleep, step in and speak to them.
10. Invest in a comprehensive Occupational Healthcare package: YourGP offers a range of Occupational Healthcare options, and packages can be tailored to the specific needs of your team. Giving your staff access to medical professionals in the workplace, right when they need them, is an effective way of prioritising their wellbeing, ensuring they are happy, healthy and productive.

Speak to the Occupational Health experts at YourGP

If you’re interested in finding out more about how your employees’ health and productivity could be boosted by a robust occupational healthcare package, speak to the experts at YourGP. Simply call 0131 381 0322 or email occhealth@your.gp to make an appointment and we’ll be happy to help you.