The
average employee misses out two hours sleep a week, new research reveals, and
this has a detrimental effect on their ability to perform at work.
The
survey of 500 workers, from a variety of occupations, by Premier Lodge Hotels,
shows that people sleep, on average, 6.5 hours a night – far less than the
commonly held belief that 8.5 hours of sleep is required.
Two-thirds
of workers admit they cannot function properly with less than two proper
night’s sleep before it affects their work, 50 per cent said sleeplessness has
a definite effect on their overall happiness and 65 per cent say they get
grumpy if two nights are disturbed in the seven-day week. The average person
feels moody about seven times a day – that’s more than 2,500 grumps a year.
Holidays
are also contributing to stress, the study claims.
Most
workers take an average of four breaks a year, but a third of people feel
stressed at the thought of taking a full week or more away from work.
Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance
Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday
Patrick
Whiteside, psychiatrist and author of the Little Book of Happiness, said: “The
work-hard, play-hard ethic is all very well, but it can take its toll. More
time for a proper night sleep and regular short breaks for rest and recreation
make admirable sense. The message is simple: take time out or burn out. Your
happiness, and that of those around you, will be much more secure.”
