As Americans, we work pretty hard and tend to view employees who work more and sleep less as more valuable and productive. However, tired employees can actually hurt productivity.
Decreased Work Performance
Employees who are overworked and come to work tired aren’t as productive in the workplace. In fact, studies show that after 50 hours, employee productivity drops significantly. That is a lot of time lost and a greater chance of costly mistakes like filling out an important form wrong.
Increased Illness & Absenteeism
In addition to decreased work performance, chronically tired employees experience more stress and illness than their counterparts who get enough sleep. This increase in illness can also lead to employees taking more sick days than they normally would, resulting in more health care costs and lost productivity.
Increased Risk of Injury
Employees who come to work tired can be a hazard to the workplace by increasing the chance of workplace accidents. Unfortunately, OSHA currently doesn’t have a regulation for sleep deprivation due to extended or unusual shifts, but they do recommend that employers recognize the signs of fatigue and take measures to limit long shifts, especially unpaid. That way, employees can get the rest they need.
How You Can Help Tired Employees
Luckily, there are several ways you can help employees be less tired during the work day to promote a healthy life and encourage them to get enough rest:
- Delegate tasks responsibly by choosing the right person for the task and focusing on the most important tasks first.
- Encourage employees to take regular breaks every 90 minutes
- Offer them nutritious snacks during the workday to keep them energized
- Manage overtime and encourage employees to use their paid vacation days
- Create a comfortable work environment with good lighting and comfortable temperatures
- Educate employees about the benefits of getting enough sleep
Making these changes can result in happier, more productive employees who know that that their employer cares about their wellbeing.
Want More Articles to Improve Your Workplace?
Subscribe to the TRUE Newsletter Today
The post Are Tired Employees Harming Your Productivity? appeared first on True Fitness.