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Sleep and productivity

Discover how employers can promote good sleep habits and learn why adequate sleep is crucial for overall employee health, wellbeing and productivity.

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Causes of sleep deprivation in the workplace

Many workplace and personal factors contribute to sleep deprivation. As an employer, once you recognise the causes you can put policies and procedures into place.

These causes include:

Long working hours

Extended shifts reduce sleep opportunities.

Work-related stress

High stress levels impact sleep quality.

Irregular schedules

Shift work disrupts natural sleep cycles.

Digital overload

Excessive screen time affects sleep patterns.

Personal factors

Financial worries, health issues and caregiving responsibilities can interfere with rest.

The UK Health Security Agency shares information on how sleep affects work performance and what you can do about it in this blog (opens in a new window).

Page last reviewed: 26th March 2025

An alarm clock on bedside near a sleeping woman.