Sleep deprivation is costing the Australian economy billions every year in lost productivity, according to a new sleep study.
A sleep census conducted by CQUniversity and Sealy found 96 percent of people surveyed reported waking up still tired, with just four percent waking feeling refreshed and ready for the day.
Unsurprisingly, sleep deprivation is having a negative impact on the country’s business sector, as sick days, lost man-hours and poor productivity are a direct result. The study found 70 percent of people said that their work productivity was negatively affected due to tiredness with 38 percent admitting to have fallen asleep at work or in a meeting.
An alarming 30 percent of employees said they have called in sick after having a bad night’s sleep, a statistics which could be costing employers millions of dollars each year in lost productivity.
The study also uncovered a striking difference between the amount of sleep required to function properly, based on various occupations. Management executives felt they need less sleep to function effectively compared to those who don’t work, students, office workers, retail employees, parents and the self-employed.
Management executives also felt they needed less sleep to drive a car safely than most other occupations and students said they needed the most amount of sleep to function effectively and slept on average 29 minutes longer than people in any other occupation.
Sealy spokesperson Ross Gage said the findings were of concern, especially in relation to the way they impact they local economy.
“The study gives us valuable insight not only into the sleeping habits of Australians but how sleep issues can directly impact on Australian commerce, with some alarming findings,” Gage said.
The Sealy Sleep Census polled 13,089 people on their sleeping habits via an online survey.
