Sleep crisis in UK is creating a wave of unproductive “insombies”

Loughborough University and Dreams which is headquartered in High Wycombe have released a study today which highlights the sleep problem currently occurring in Britain.

The study assessed 2,002 individuals and used questionnaires and sleep diaries to finalise the results.

The report titled ‘Ending Sleep Stigma in the Workplace’ aims to bring awareness to this issue in places of work as figures reveal that three in four employees suffer from persistent sleep problems.

Companies do not appear to be taking responsibility or offering resources to help this growing issue, despite the research showing that sleep supportive cultures can improve employee health and well being and company performance.

Some of the stats revealed are shocking, such as 54% of workers stating that they are unable to stay awake during the day.

Even though this is an issue for many people it is only being exacerbated as 70% of employees worry about bringing the issue up with their boss due to fears of it impacting their careers.

The port concludes by setting out a ‘Sleep Stigma Action Plan’ for businesses and the government to tackle this pressing issue.

They suggest that the government appoint a ‘sleep tsar’, someone who’s responsible for ensuring various government departments include sleep in future policies as well as calling on businesses with over 250 employees to include sleep in the workplace well being policies.

Businesses could normalise conversations about sleep and have a 24-hour access helpline to help this issue.

Mike Logue, CEO Dreams: “With three quarters of working people not getting enough sleep, we’re becoming a nation of sleep-deprived and unproductive insombies. Yet sleep isn’t being taken seriously. If we’re serious about solving the chronic productivity puzzle, Government and businesses need to put an end to workplace sleep stigma and support more people to sleep better.”

Dreams have launched a Sleep Action Plan to support its 2000 employees in getting better sleep following the report’s findings.

Just a few of the initiatives included in the plan are sleep health training for managers and sleep trackers for all staff.

Dr Pixie McKenna, GP and sleep expert for Dreams, added: “With people in Britain spending more time at work than any other European nation, it’s no wonder our work experiences and places are having such a huge impact on our sleep health.

“It’s time for all of us in our personal and professional lives to prioritise getting better sleep.”