Sleep is a foundational element in determining one’s overall health and quality of life, with the average adult requiring at least seven hours of sleep per night for the best health and wellbeing. Even though most people know this, sleep is severely undervalued in our culture, as revealed in a 2013 Gallup poll which showed that 40% of Americans get less than 6 hours of sleep per night. What many people may not realize is that a lack of sleep leads to negative physical, mental and emotional consequences that have direct and meaningful implications in the workplace.
What happens when you don’t get enough sleep?
When you don’t get enough sleep, your heart rate increases, you lose your ability to concentrate, your short-term memory suffers, and your physical performance may be impaired. With a lack of sleep, you also experienced increased feelings of hunger and crave unhealthy foods, which can lead to weight gain and a host of other health issues.
How does a lack of sleep impact work?
The side effects of not getting enough sleep are more than just a nuisance—they can be job hazards and can significantly lower productivity and morale in the workplace.
Drowsy driving is a significant workplace risk related to a lack of sleep. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that in 2015 there were 90,000 traffic accidents involving drowsy drivers, leading to an estimated 41,000 injuries and more than 800 deaths. Beyond driving-related accidents, fatigue and a lack of alertness are contributing factors in many workplace incidents. Others who work with heavy machinery or power tools, or in dangerous work zones, face clear safety concerns when fatigued.
Sleep impacts more than just safety. Employers should note the impacts of sleep on their workplace culture. The quality and quantity of sleep impacts employee morale, productivity and overall health. A lack of sleep leads to a ‘get-through-the-day mentality’, while people who have good sleep health report feeling more effective at getting things done each day.
Getting enough rest is vital for a safety and health and will make workers more productive. To learn more about sleep, the science behind sleep habits and the impacts of sleep on your work and overall quality of life, listen to the recent webinar from our Scott Risk Performance Team.
At Scott, we strive to create and add value for businesses. We provide expert insights and technical knowledge to help solve problems, create change and improve performance in the areas of risk management and employee benefits.
As a reader of our blog, we hope this has been your experience and that the content our team provides on a regular basis helps inform and elevate your thinking surrounding these critical components of your company’s culture and overall performance.
We’d like to introduce you to some additional free Performance Thinking resources from Scott that can help you improve your business.
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In the majority of U.S. cities today, new construction is burgeoning. The Bureau of Labor Statistics and a report from Timetric’s Construction Intelligence Center (CIC) project the construction industry to be one of the fastest growing industries into 2020. With this growth, competition in the market is tough and having a risk management strategy that protects your business and gives you a competitive advantage is critical.
The information in this article can help you identify potential red flags in your organization and gain insight into construction risk management best practices that, when implemented, can help reduce your exposure to common issues in the industry. Read Full Story
In April, the California Supreme Court issued a pro-employee ruling in Dynamex Operations West, Inc. v. Superior Court. This ruling will heavily impact businesses and workers in California and could have a ripple effect across state and industry lines.
Employers in the construction and affordable housing industries may be affected; however, all business owners considering the hiring of independent contractors should familiarize themselves with this case as it may provide evidence of future sentiment by the courts that is against the classification of workers as independent contractors.
Click here to download a white paper examining the following topics:
• Worker classification or misclassification
• The Dynamex ruling and its impact on construction and affordable housing
• Pros and cons of the independent contractor model
• Strategies to manage risks associated with independent contractors
In today’s climate, cyber risk is top of mind for business leaders. Unfortunately, many still fail to understand the complexities involved and unknowingly leave their businesses vulnerable.
High-profile data breaches grab our attention on a regular basis – like the hack of Under Armour’s MyFitnessPal app earlier this year that was called “one of the biggest hacks in history,” compromising 150 million accounts. When these incidents occur, businesses should turn the fear of “what if?” into action by evaluating their exposures and ensuring they are properly protected and prepared to deal with a breach should it occur.
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