Sleep & Wellbeing

Question 1

Explain the ‘burned out’ phenomenon, its solution, and obstacles.

Answer 1

Worker productivity, even top talent can be negatively affected by heavy workloads which increase workload and strain, leading to burnout. Sleeping well is one of the solutions to burnout (outside of altering the work itself), though firms are hesitant to influence something part of their staffs personal lives.

Question 2

Explain the effects around ‘setting an example’ for employees.

Answer 2

Employees often mimic managers behaviors, this can be detrimental for employees sleep patterns if managers set examples around working early, finishing late, and responses to work emails/issues outside of working hours. Poor sleep patterns can reduce individuals performance, putting at risk organizational performance, and thus should be considered a resource.

Question 3

Why could losing even 1 hr of sleep be a bad thing?

Answer 3

Can negatively affect memory (thus performance), health (thus workplace injuries), focus (thus cyber-loafing and accidents/errors).

Question 4

Lack of sleep can lead to… (two main things)

Answer 4

Cyber-loafing and cyberslacking

Question 5

What are some costs of lost sleep?

Answer 5

One 2012 US study found that sleep deprivation costs lead to over $31 billion in extra costs (due to accidents/errors). Another 2010 US study of four companies found that even sleep problems could lead to $2500 per employee.

Performance

Question 6

How can lost sleep impact performance?

Answer 6

1) Lower effort, trust, cooperation
2) Reduced multitasking performance
3) Increased unethical and deviant behavior

Question 7

What 4 things can organizations do to manage the resource of sleep?

Answer 7

1) Sleep supportive culture
2) Sleep supportive processes
3) Sleep supportive practices
4) Sleep supportive spaces

Question 8

How can you create a sleep supportive culture?

Answer 8

Create a work culture that embodies and recognizes the value of sleep

Lead by example - i.e. Jess Bezos sleeping bag in the office

Incorporate cultural values into formal policies

Question 9

How can you create sleep supportive processes?

Answer 9

Try reduce shift work, i.e. graveyard shifts, increased accidents happen on night shifts.

Try follow natural circadian rhythms

Make sure disaster plan take into account rest rotations

Question 10

How can you create sleep supportive practices?

Answer 10

Include good sleep habits in wellness programs

Reduce the # of hrs employees are schedules to work

Allow workers to disconnect from work after work hours

Question 11

How can you create sleep supportive spaces?

Answer 11

Nap rooms, encourage use

Try to rest following natural rhythms/cycles

Power nap, wake up energized not groggy

Nap pods - google