Businesses Viewing Sleep as a Health Issue

It’s common sense that’s backed up with science — well-rested people are more productive, happier, and generally easier to get along with.  However, despite those facts, many businesses encourage and glorify workers who stay late at their jobs and even pull all-nighters.  An article this week from Business Insider points out that the tide may be changing with that type of work culture:

For office cultures, it’s in productivity loss. For manufacturers or health care providers, the consequences can be much worse.

Increasingly, companies, including giants like Procter & Gamble and Goldman Sachs, are investing in hiring sleep experts and coaches who design programs to educate employees about the consequences of poor sleep as well as healthier sleep habits and strategies.  

Others are taking a more physical approach, installing nap pods for employees to take a quick break. 

Given that a high percentage of us don’t get the needed seven to nine hours of shut-eye each night, it’s amazing that we can function at work, let alone function at a high level.  It’s encouraging to see that companies are seeing sleep deprivation as a treatable health issue much like obesity, high blood pressure, or diabetes.

Source: Business Insider