Inadequate sleep is causing billions of dollars in economic losses in industrialised countries, researchers at the RAND Corporation found.
In the US, chronic sleeplessness is costing US$400 billion each year and results in 1.23 million lost days of work.
The runner-up, Japan, loses as much as US$138 billion annually to sleeplessness among workers, but that represents a greater share of its economy.
The number of individuals who sleep less than the recommended hours is increasing in the developed world. From 20 to 30 per cent of these workers complain of a lack of sleep on a daily basis.
“Inadequate sleep is too easily accepted into the community as part of life,” said Dr David Hillman, a clinical professor at the University of Western Australia who studies sleep deficiency. In many work settings, “sleep is an indulgence.”
Inadequate sleep is too easily accepted Dr David Hillman
On a less quantifiable level, inadequate sleep reduces the safety and productivity of workers. Researchers have linked such shattering events as the Challenger space shuttle accident to human error caused by a lack of sleep.
“It’s a huge problem that translates into enormous costs,” said Dr Hillman. “And it’s a call to not only mitigate the suffering, but also to mitigate the costs.”
As the work force becomes more competitive, he said, employers must acknowledge inadequate sleep as a threat to company productivity. Well-rested employees are more efficient, tend to be healthier and feel more content.
More people should be educated about the importance of sleep and sleep hygiene at a young age, Dr Hillman added. Usually, poor sleeping habits in middle age can be traced back to sleep patterns formed in youth.
“Changing the positive mind-set around inadequate sleep as a lifestyle is necessary to safeguard one’s health,” said Dr Hillman. A company performs well when managers are “aware of the wellness of their employees,” he added.
