5 Immediate Actions to Improve Sleep and Boost Productivity in Your Workforce

Introduction

We are in the midst of a global sleep crisis. Insufficient sleep is prevalent across all age groups and is considered a public health epidemic that is often unrecognised, under-reported, and has high economic costs. The cause? The toxic impact of modern living and stress on our body and nervous system. 

Investing in sleep health is not just a wellness initiative; it's a strategic business decision with quantifiable returns. Consider this—for every £1 channelled into well-being, there's an impressive return on investment of £5.30. While many companies are already investing in wellness through fitness and wellness programmes, many don’t see the expected return on investment as they are missing a fundamental ingredient - high quality sleep, and without this foundation for wellness, other programmes fall short of their expectations. 

In today’s demanding work environment, the importance of sleep for overall well-being and productivity cannot be overstated. Sleep directly impacts an employee’s ability to perform, make decisions, and stay healthy. 

Here are five practical actions you can take today to support the sleep health of your workforce, leading to a safer, more productive, and more satisfied team.

1. Assess the Scope: Understand the Sleep Problem in Your Workforce

Before you can address sleep issues, it’s important to understand how widespread they are within your workforce. Many employees struggle silently with sleep deprivation, which can severely impact their health, happiness, and productivity. Sometimes other sleep issues are at play, insomnia, children keeping the household awake, menopausal symptoms impacting sleep, stress related sleep issues, and understanding the cause is key to providing effective solutions. 

According to RAND Europe: In the UK, 35% of working adults get insufficent sleep and 8% suffer from chronic insomnia. Workers who sleep less than six hours per day report on average about a 2.4 percentage point higher productivity loss, while those with chronic insomnia have an average loss of 45–54 days in workplace productivity per year. It is estimated that insufficient sleep costs the UK economy £40 billion a year (1.86% of GDP) and over 200,000 working days per year. 

Actionable Step: Start by conducting anonymous surveys or assessments to gauge the extent of sleep-related issues among your staff. This data will guide your interventions and help you tailor support to where it’s most needed. At The Sleep Project we offer a free corporate Sleep Health Check which will provide you data on your company's Sleep Health and the potential impact on your team, click here to sign up.

2. Focus on Education: Empower Employees with Sleep Knowledge

Educating your employees about sleep is one of the most effective ways to improve their sleep health. Many people are not aware they are neglecting their sleep or they have sleep issues but don’t know how to access help. 

The Power of Sleep Education: Studies have shown that sleep education can increase sleep duration by an average of 20 to 90 minutes .This simple but effective approach can lead to better health and performance across your workforce.

Actionable Step: Consider implementing regular sleep education sessions as part of your wellness programme. These could cover topics such as sleep for peak performance, managing insomnia, coping with shiftwork or jetlag, the benefits of regular sleep patterns, managing sleep through menopause transition or could focus on optimising sleep for the whole family. Not only will this improve your team’s sleep, but it will also demonstrate your commitment to their wellbeing and quality rest. Book your educational session now. 

3. Cultivate a Sleep-Supportive Culture

The culture of your workplace plays a huge role in how your employees view sleep. Unfortunately, many workplaces still perpetuate harmful beliefs like "You snooze, you lose," which can discourage people from prioritising their rest.

Challenge Harmful Beliefs: Create an environment that supports rest rather than glorifies overwork; develop out-of-hours email policies that allow employees to switch off in the evening and weekend; Train workplace sleep ambassadors (book training) to support employees sleep better; or celebrate Sleep Awareness Week (March 9th-15th 2025)

Creating a Restful Environment: Encourage employees to take proper breaks and avoid eating lunch at their desks. If possible, create quiet spaces where employees can rest and unwind. Spending just 5 minutes per day practicing a relaxation technique such as breathwork has been shown to improve sleep and reduce anxiety.

Consider Flexible Working: Promote policies that support work-life balance, such as flexible working hours. For many employees, allowing flexibility can actually increase productivity, staff retention, and job satisfaction. Examples who particularly benefits from these schemes include those with night-owl tendencies, those struggling with insomnia or menopausal sleep disturbances, and those balancing childcare needs.

4. Provide Targeted Sleep Support for Employees in Need

Certain groups within your workforce may need extra support when it comes to sleep. New parents, those going through menopause, or employees struggling with insomnia may find it particularly difficult to get the rest they need.

Identify and Support Vulnerable Groups: Offer resources and access to sleep specialists for these groups. At The Sleep Project we design tailor-made sleep programmes focused on the needs of your employees. Link here for your free call to find out more. 

Actionable Step: Implement targeted interventions like sleep workshops, sleep training, or access to sleep apps and resources that cater specifically to these employees. Showing that you understand their challenges and are taking action can significantly improve their job satisfaction and performance.

5. Invest in Sleep: Reap the Benefits of Enhanced Performance

Investing in your employees’ sleep is not just good for their health; it’s also a smart business move. A well-rested workforce is more productive, less likely to take sick days, and more satisfied with their jobs.

The ROI of Sleep Investment: Sleep is the ultimate performance enhancer. It improves cognitive function, reduces errors, and leads to better decision-making. Investing in sleep initiatives can lead to tangible returns, such as increased productivity, lower turnover, and a more positive workplace culture.

Actionable Step: Encourage leadership to see sleep initiatives as a long-term investment in the company’s success. The benefits of well-rested employees will far outweigh the costs of implementing these programmes.

Conclusion: Taking these five actions today can make a significant difference in your workplace. By prioritising sleep, you’re not only supporting your employees’ health and well-being but also investing in the overall success of your organisation. Start with small steps, and over time, build towards a comprehensive sleep-supportive environment. Remember, sleep isn’t just a break—it’s a key component of a thriving, productive workforce.

References:

 The Global Problem of Insufficient Sleep and Its Serious Public Health Implications. Chattu et al. Healthcare 2019.

 Mental health and employers: refreshing the case for investment. Deloitte 2017 Report

O'Donnell S, Driller MW. Sleep-hygiene education improves sleep indices in elite female athletes. Int J Exerc Sci 2017;10:522–30

Evaluating the impact of a sleep health education and a personalised smartphone application on sleep, productivity and healthcare utilisation among employees: results of a randomised clinical trial 

 Brief structured respiration practices enhance mood and reduce physiological arousal. Cell Rep Med

. 2023 Jan. Balban et al.

 CIPD. Flexible Working: The business case