In our always-connected work culture, executives can outsource almost any task. But there’s one thing that can’t be delegated: sleep. And now, a growing wave of major corporations are realizing that how their employees sleep directly impacts how they perform at work.
“How an employee sleeps at home directly impacts how they function at work,” Nancy Rothstein, Director of CIRCADIAN Corporate Sleep Programs, told HuffPost. “An employer cannot outsource an employee’s sleep.”
The corporate sleep movement is building momentum. Aetna pays employees up to $500 per year for getting seven hours of sleep. Google, Zappos, and Ben & Jerry’s have installed nap rooms. Facebook has held sleep workshops. McKinsey has published research on sleep and leadership. JetBlue installed nap pods at JFK airport.
Key Takeaways
- Sleep deprivation is like being drunk. Sleep-deprived individuals perform cognitively at the same level as someone who is legally intoxicated.
- Leadership suffers without sleep. Sleep affects every key behavior needed for effective leadership — yet 43% of corporate leaders don’t get enough sleep.
- Corporate wellness is incomplete without sleep. Companies have long focused on fitness and nutrition. Sleep is the third — and arguably most important — pillar.
- Data changed the conversation. Quantitative research on sleep’s impact on productivity and costs finally got corporate attention.
- The future is sustainable sleep culture. Nancy envisions ongoing workplace programs with weekly check-ins that create lasting cultural change.
The #SleepRevolution has arrived at your desk. For corporate sleep consulting, explore The Sleep Ambassador’s services or browse resources for better sleep.
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