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Tiredness 'is reducing the productivity of UK workers'

Published On 13 April 2007 at 15:43:46

Workers at many of the country's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are not performing at their maximum levels because they are not getting enough sleep, according to a new report.

A study by Travelodge found that only three per cent of people managed to get the recommended eight hours of sleep that are needed to work to the highest levels.

And the fact that Briton's workers are not sleeping enough is affecting their ability to work. The report shows that 56 per cent of workers at the UK's SMEs said they suffered from extreme fatigue while on the job.

Similarly, 54 per cent said that sleep deprivation meant that they had lost concentration while at work.

Worryingly, nearly half (49 per cent) said that they felt depressed at work because they were not sleeping properly.

Chris Idzikowski, an expert from the Edinburgh Sleep Centre, said that workers should not rely on traditional pick-ups to improve their work.

"Quick fixes such as coffee, tea and energy drinks are not that useful. Whilst coffee might boost alertness for short time it will not necessarily prevent tiredness - so the chances of being involved in a road traffic accident increase," he explained.

Recent research also found that the majority of UK workers felt that their job had left them feeling stressed and unwell.

 

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