Based on data from Sealy’s recent Worldwide Sleep Census, which questioned 5,000 people of a working age from across the UK, the findings revealed a staggering 70% of UK employees admitted they could function better at work if they slept better.
Not only that, but it appears this ongoing sleep deprivation is causing some serious issues in the working week; 19% of employees say they’re often late into work or have time off as a result, 65% regularly lose their temper or have been irritable to a colleague, while 30% claim they suffer a lack of productivity.
A shocking 1-in-25 of us even admitted falling asleep whilst at work.
However, perhaps most worrying is the 11% of workers who have had a recent accident at work – such as a trip or a slip, due to feeling tired.
The most sleep deprived professions emerged as:
- Hospitality (86%)
- Banking and finance (79%)
- Construction (77%)
- Retail (76%)
- Transport and communications (76%)
On the back of these findings, Sealy is now spearheading a major initiative, appealing to bosses to take this issue more seriously – in turn helping drive down the number of staff across the country calling in sick. More information, including downloadable resources can be found at www.sealy.co.uk.
Sealy’s tips to a better night’s sleep
- Stick to a regular bedtime – Ensure you maintain a regular bedtime, even on weekends.
- Keep active – Keep active during the day so you don’t have unwanted energy at bedtime.
- Invest in a quality mattress – To help ensure a comfortable night’s sleep, invest in a mattress that is engineered to fully support the back and align the body.
- Switch off electronics – Turn off electronic devices in the evening two to three hours before bedtime.
- Eat right – Eating healthily, and maintaining an active lifestyle is important and can help with your quality of sleep.
