Organizational Sleep Factors
- Shift work: Irregular schedules disrupt circadian rhythms and reduce sleep quality
- Long work hours: Employees who work 50+ hours/week sleep significantly less than those who work 40 hours
- Always-on culture: Expectations of after-hours email and availability reduce sleep time
- Commuting: Long commutes reduce sleep time and increase stress
- Workplace stress: High job demands and low control reduce sleep quality
Sleep-Supportive Workplace Policies
Workplace policies that support sleep include: flexible work schedules that allow employees to align work hours with their natural sleep patterns, no-email-after-hours norms that reduce the pressure to be always available, and adequate vacation and PTO policies that allow employees to recover from work stress.
Sleep Education Programs
Pro Tip
Sleep education programs that teach employees about sleep hygiene — consistent sleep schedules, dark and cool sleep environments, limiting screen time before bed — can significantly improve sleep quality. Digital sleep programs like Sleepio and Calm provide evidence-based sleep education and CBT-I techniques in an accessible format. These programs are low-cost and can be offered as part of a comprehensive wellbeing program.