How we sleep at night can influence how we feel the next day. Fatigue is a common complaint across the workforce and continues to rise among US workers. Presenteeism is when an employee shows up to work, but gets less done due to not feeling well. Specific health conditions are often to blame. When we think of health issues, we often identify chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, or heart disease. How we sleep is also a common factor in presenteeism. This can directly impact work culture, productivity and efficiency. Research indicates that fatigue reduces creative problem-solving and cooperation among coworkers. A fatigued employees has less motivation to complete daily tasks, a lack of focus and increased mistakes and accidents.
Employee safety relies, in part, on their alertness and ability to stick to protocol. Fatigue causes these brain functions to worsen. Inadequate sleep can be dangerous. Not getting adequate rest can result in everything, from falling asleep on the job to accidents, a decreased attention span and poor memory. Employees who are tired make more thinking errors and are more likely to skip instructions. They also have slower reaction times and are less willing to put forth high effort. Research suggests that inadequate sleep plays a role in at least 13% of all work-related injuries! When sleep time is short, clear thinking becomes more difficult. Learning and memory is sensitive to how rested you are. In healthy adults, adding more sleep time to your routine can help.
Presenteeism is associated with more use of long-term sick leave. Research shows that presenteeism leads to higher economic costs than those from sick leave and sick days.
A study of almost 4,200 US workers reveals that fatigue and presenteeism are closely associated. Employees with insomnia and those who get less than 6 hours of rest show measurable deficits in work productivity, performance, and safety. Employer costs for each employee with inadequate sleep or insomnia costs an additional $1967 annually compared to employees who do not have sleep complaints.
Employees with sleep issues are more likely to have issues with presenteeism, and this can lead to exhaustion as well as burnout. Employers can provide tools for behavior change. This can enhance work culture, because sleep is closely tied to employee wellbeing.
How employees relax and restore on their own time influences their safety and productivity during working hours. Good bedtime habits are foundational for a healthy lifestyle for everybody. This is why proactive sleep solutions are part of the Treo Whole-Person Platform.
Treo offers evidence-driven tools for behavior change and mental resilience. Some of our sleep-supporting options include breathwork videos and progressive relaxation videos, habit-building tools, mindfulness practices and soothing soundscapes. To learn more, email info@treowellness.com.
As Treo’s Global Wellness Researcher, Karlie uses recent research findings to support healthier daily habits. Karlie earned her doctorate in Neuroscience and Behavior and bachelors in Health and Exercise Science.
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