The cost of poor sleep: workplace productivity loss and associated costs.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the impact of sleep disturbances on work performance/productivity.


METHODS
Employees (N = 4188) at four US corporations were surveyed about sleep patterns and completed the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Respondents were classified into four categories: insomnia, insufficient sleep syndrome, at-risk, and good sleep. Employer costs related to productivity changes were estimated through the Work Limitations Questionnaire. Performance/productivity, safety, and treatment measures were compared using a one-way analysis of variance model.


RESULTS
Compared with at-risk and good-sleep groups, insomnia and insufficient sleep syndrome groups had significantly worse productivity, performance, and safety outcomes. The insomnia group had the highest rate of sleep medication use. The other groups were more likely to use nonmedication treatments. Fatigue-related productivity losses were estimated to cost $1967/employee annually.


CONCLUSIONS
Sleep disturbances contribute to decreased employee productivity at a high cost to employers.
Rosekind
Mark R
MR
Alertness Solutions, Cupertino, Calif 95014, USA. bealert@alertsol.com
Gregory
Kevin B
KB
Mallis
Melissa M
MM
Brandt
Summer L
SL
Seal
Brian
B
Lerner
Debra
D
D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D020920:Dyssomnias / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004526:Efficiency; D004650:Employee Performance Appraisal; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology