Groggy Workers Less Productive, At Risk

March 29, 2000
A poll by the National Sleep Foundation reveals that Americans who lack sleep admit to being less productive and making mistakes while on the job.

A new poll released by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) confirms what most busy Americans know, yet few seem to correct: while we may be aware of the importance of adequate sleep to performance and well-being, we're still not prepared to do much about it.

Sleep experts recommend at least 8 hours of sleep a night for adults to function properly, yet NSF's 2000 Sleep in America omnibus poll found that, on average, adults sleep just under 7 hours during the work week.

Part of the poll focused on sleepiness in the workplace.

Americans now work the longest hours of any industrialized nation in the world, according to a recent study by the International Labour Organization.

However, as we work longer hours to get more don, individual productivity levels are suffering due to sleepiness. This is of particular concern to those workers who are in manufacturing jobs.

The following statistics from the poll show the importance of sleep in order for functionality, productivity and safety while on the job.

  • One-half of the American workforce (51 percent) reports that sleepiness on the job interferes with the amount of work they get done.
  • Nearly one out of five adults (19 percent) report making occasional or frequent work errors due to sleepiness.
  • More than two-thirds (68 percent of shift workers report problems sleeping.
  • 40 percent of adults admit that the quality of their work suffers when they are sleepy.

To learn more about the study and how to prevent sleepiness, go to www.sleepfoundation.org.

About the Author

EHS Today Staff

EHS Today's editorial staff includes:

Dave Blanchard, Editor-in-Chief: During his career Dave has led the editorial management of many of Endeavor Business Media's best-known brands, including IndustryWeekEHS Today, Material Handling & LogisticsLogistics Today, Supply Chain Technology News, and Business Finance. In addition, he serves as senior content director of the annual Safety Leadership Conference. With over 30 years of B2B media experience, Dave literally wrote the book on supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Best Practices (John Wiley & Sons, 2021), which has been translated into several languages and is currently in its third edition. He is a frequent speaker and moderator at major trade shows and conferences, and has won numerous awards for writing and editing. He is a voting member of the jury of the Logistics Hall of Fame, and is a graduate of Northern Illinois University.

Adrienne Selko, Senior Editor: In addition to her roles with EHS Today and the Safety Leadership Conference, Adrienne is also a senior editor at IndustryWeek and has written about many topics, with her current focus on workforce development strategies. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics. Previously she was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck?, which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list.

Nicole Stempak, Managing Editor:  Nicole Stempak is managing editor of EHS Today and conference content manager of the Safety Leadership Conference.

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