A survey commissioned by the National Sleep Foundation found that inadequate or poor-quality sleep significantly reduces workplace productivity and performance among U.S. adults.
About 60 percent of participants reported that poor sleep negatively affected their daily lives, and 70 percent said it reduced their ability to be productive at work. The data showed that two-thirds of adults admitted struggling with workloads and making more mistakes when they had not slept well.
The findings were presented at CES 2025 in Las Vegas and underscored the message that sleep-deprived workplace participants undermine business performance and organizational success.
Dr. Joseph Dzierzewski, Senior Vice President of Research and Scientific Affairs for the National Sleep Foundation, emphasized that whether a company has 20 or 200,000 employees, prioritizing sleep health can enhance work quality, safety, and overall productivity. As organizations continue recovering from the pandemic and adjust to full-time or hybrid work schedules, the need for well-rested employees has become more apparent. More than half of those surveyed said that poor sleep affected their ability to complete required work hours, avoid mistakes, and maintain appropriate interactions with colleagues.
The study included 1,372 adults across the United States, including Black and Hispanic populations, and conducted online in both English and Spanish. Specific findings showed that inadequate sleep made it harder for workers to start the day (72 percent), think clearly (69 percent), perform tasks carefully (58 percent), interact effectively (47 percent), and manage their temper at work (48 percent).
The research highlighted that, although the effects of poor sleep on physical and mental health are well-documented, less attention has been given to its role in workplace functioning. The report also noted growing interest in sleep-focused wearable technology showcased at CES 2025, reflecting corporate and consumer attention toward improving sleep quality to boost performance.
Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-01-poor-productivity-survey.html
So, the question for our readers is: Do Sleep-Deprived Employers Undermine Organizational Performance?
Here is an opinion of one of the McCalmon editorial staff:
Jack McCalmon, Esq.
I can only speak for myself, but I need a minimum of six hours of sleep to perform my best, in my opinion. As I have grown older, I view sleep very differently and wish I had taken it more seriously when I was younger.
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