Lack of sleep: An issue at work

• Begin by educating your employees. Information on the amount of sleep needed to stay healthy, on sleep disorders and how to get quality sleep, can be included in newsletters or posted in common areas. Use credible information, such as that found in the Biron guide to sleep hygiene or the Canadian sleep-related public health campaign Sleep On It.
• Supplement your corporate health and wellness program with sleep workshops and training. The team at Biron Health at Work can help you by organizing activities to suit your needs.
• Encourage the use of online tools that help your employees assess and improve their sleep, such as Biron’s screening tool for sleep disorders and the interactive night shift tool from the Centre for Advanced Research in Sleep Medicine.
• Assess the quality of your employees’ sleep regularly with a questionnaire on their sleep habits and the problems they encounter. If needed, encourage them to see a sleep specialist.

According to a compilation of studies led by a researcher at Simon Fraser University,[3] taking breaks at work is beneficial for employees, as it reduces stress, fatigue, cognitive problems and sleep disorders. Contrary to the conventional idea that long working hours are the key to productivity, breaks help workers improve their performance by recharging their batteries. Indeed, a person who tries to complete their tasks despite being tired will not be able to properly do so.

As a result, it is important for employers to adopt a positive attitude towards breaks in the workplace. These moments of rest can consist of exercise or a walk, meeting other people, having a snack, meditating or even taking a nap. However, it is best for these activities to happen away from the workstation, ideally outdoors, and preferably in the afternoon. Here are a few ideas for encouraging employees to take a break.[4]

• Convey the importance of taking breaks by displaying posters on the benefits and best practices of getting rest. Managers can also set an example by taking breaks themselves.
• If needed, introduce compulsory breaks, but with flexibility. For example, specify the length of breaks each day, but let employees choose when and how often they take them.
• Create break areas with comfortable furnishings, such as armchairs and even beds for naps.
• To inspire your employees, hold a break workshop where they can share strategies and brainstorm about break-related activities.

Various aspects of the physical environment, such as lighting, temperature and noise, influence the degree of employees’ fatigue or wakefulness, and certain measures can improve their alertness.

• Light is a powerful stimulant that has a direct effect on alertness and cognitive function, and therefore on productivity at work. Proper lighting not only makes it easier to get work done, but also contributes to sleep quality by regulating the sleep/wake cycle, which is primarily based on exposure to light.
• Ambient temperature has a direct impact on a worker's memory, attention and mental alertness. By analyzing data from various studies on the topic, theInternational Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Healt[5] found that cognitive and professional performance is at its best between 22 and 24 °C.
• From ringing phones to noisy equipment and conversations between colleagues, noise can lead to fatigue, irritability and loss of concentration, resulting in lost productivity. Controlling the sound environment, by reducing noise at source and providing access to hearing protection, helps improve the concentration and efficiency of employees.

Sleep problems such as sleep apnea and insomnia result in major costs for organizations, especially in terms of absenteeism and lost productivity. Interventions aimed at improving the quality of employees’ sleep not only benefit their health, but also have extremely positive effects for companies.

First of all, workers perform better when they are well rested. Secondly, employees who sleep well are less often sick or unwell, thereby reducing absenteeism and presenteeism, as well as the risk of workplace accidents. Finally, by addressing their employees’ sleep problems early on, companies limit the complications associated with insomnia, such as chronic illness and mental health problems, thereby reducing health-related expenses.