HEALTH: Workers losing sleep costs the U.S. up to $411 billion: study

We all know that we need to get more sleep — but now there’s a reason for employers to help us actually make naps happen.

Sleep deprivation costs the U.S. up to $411 billion a year in lost productivity and mortality, according to a new report. That’s 2.28% of the GDP.

But there’s an easy fix. Researchers at the not-for-profit RAND Europe, which led the study, noted that getting just an extra hour of shut-eye could add $226.4 billion to the U.S. economy — and cut one’s increased mortality risk in half.

The problem is finding ways to squeeze in that snooze time during today’s increasingly 24/7 lifestyle. More than one-third of Americans don’t get enough sleep on a nightly basis, according to the CDC, and there’s evidence indicating that the proportion of sleep-deprived people is rising. Our tech-obsessed society is messing with our natural sleep/wake cycle with the stimulating lights on our devices, TVs and clocks — not to mention our all-hours social media habits.

Losing Z’s is linked with breast cancer, heart disease, obesity and drowsy driving that can lead to fatal accidents. And research shows that people are 4.2 times more likely to catch a cold if they sleep less than six hours a night.

But the new report, which quantified economic losses from lack of sleep among workers in the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Germany and Japan, reveals that missing slumber costs more than our health. Sleeping less than six hours a night also results in lower productivity levels and a 13% higher risk of mortality, which leads to American businesses losing around 1.2 million working days a year.

The U.S. had the biggest financial losses, but the report also noted that exhausted employees cost Germany up to $60 billion annually. And even Canada, the nation with the best sleep outcomes, is still losing $21.4 billion from workers who need more rest.

“Our study shows the effects from a lack of sleep are massive,” said study author Marco Hafner. “Improving individual sleep habits and duration has huge implications, with our research showing that simple changes can make a big difference.”

 

The study calls for employers to set up workplaces where there are facilities for daytime naps, and employees are discouraged from using electronic devices after working hours. But while having a boss who lets you slip away for 40 winks, or who doesn’t need you on email at all hours, certainly sounds like a dream come true, this is unlikely to happen for most of us in the near future.

So individuals are also encouraged to invest in better sleeping habits for themselves by setting consistent bedtimes and wake-up times (including on weekends), exercising during the day and limiting screentime and the use of electronics before bed.