- More than half of UK residents take time off work due to feeling tired or having not had enough sleep
- New data from The Sleep Charity reveals our daily struggles with tiredness at work
- Launch of new Sleep Charter aims to help businesses support workers in developing better sleep habits
Over 50 per cent of British workers say they take time off work due to feeling tired or not having enough sleep, new data from The Sleep Charity reveals.
If this isn’t concerning enough to bosses, 38 per cent of workers admit to forgetting things and being less productive as a result of not having enough shut eye.
The survey, conducted in partnership with OnePoll, marks the launch of The Sleep Charity’s Sleep Charter.
The Charter has been developed to help improve the sleep of employees across the nation by providing practical guidance to employers.
The data also reveals that 25 per cent of 45–55-year-olds come into work tired most days, while one in five 25–34-year-olds fail to turn up to work at all due to feeling tired and more than a quarter (28 per cent) of 18–24-year-olds leave work early due to tiredness.
The Sleep Charity’s deputy CEO, Lisa Artis, said: “Workplace wellbeing is more critical now than ever, due to the extra pressure on workers with the ongoing cost of living and energy crises, so these survey results are a worrying finding that show employees need help with their sleep.
“It’s important that bosses are putting a structure in place to look after employees’ wellbeing especially when pressure is high outside of the office environment.
“This data shows a shocking number of their colleagues are not able to work at their full potential due to sleep issues, which are also affecting their personal wellbeing. Sleep deprivation must be taken seriously and employees need to feel they can talk to their line managers about any issues without judgement.
“These numbers can be reduced, however, with the right advice and help, which is why we are re-launching our Sleep Charter today as part of our Sleep Matters campaign.
“We want to drive awareness of sleep-related issues and their impact on our work, and support businesses throughout 2023 in helping their teams to sleep better.”
The Charter for Sleep Equality addresses the growing issues of sleep deprivation and fatigue, calling on businesses to pledge their commitment to improving sleep support for their employees.
Artis added: “We are pleased to be able to relaunch the Charter to help solve the issues that the lack of sleep can bring to people’s daily lives.
“It’s important that firms take action to educate themselves on the wider problems that lack of sleep can cause in the workplace. and we hope this new data helps to spread awareness and open eyes to just how many people this can affect.”
Dr Karen McDonnell, who sits on The Sleep Charity’s Advisory Board and is occupational health and safety policy adviser at The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: “We at RoSPA believe the impact of sleep deprivation shouldn’t be ignored. Not only does it prohibit Britain’s workers from performing well in their day-to-day tasks and responsibilities, but the impact of a bad night’s sleep can result in dangerous driving and slips and trips in the home, while also having negative consequences on our wellbeing and mental health.
“We believe it is essential that business leaders consider the brewing concerns of their fatigued colleagues and consider ways to address these pressures, especially before we head into some very difficult months ahead.”
Businesses can read the new Sleep Charter and discover how they can support the campaign here: www.thesleepcharity.org.uk/get-involved/campaigning/
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