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SME bosses 'not getting enough sleep to work effectively'

Published On 3 May 2007 at 11:24:16

The bosses of the UK's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are often not getting enough sleep to run their businesses effectively, according to a new survey.

Data gathered by Travelodge shows that 97 per cent of British professionals are not getting the recommended eight hours of sleep a night that humans need.

However, the study revealed that company bosses were some of the most sleep-deprived people in the country - with the typical director getting just 5.9 hours sleep a night.

Some bosses (eight per cent) revealed that they are getting by on just four hours shut-eye every night, meaning that these people lose seven years of sleep over their working life. Equally, 16 per cent of this group admit to regularly working until 2am.

"In order to stay healthy and alert when working shifts it's important to be organised - plan time for sleep in advance," explained Wayne Munnelly, Travelodge's director of sleep.

Jessica Alexander, a spokesperson for the Sleep Council, blamed this lack of sleep on the fact that bosses felt they needed to be constantly checking their business.

"[In] the communication age…sleep has been somewhat squeezed in a 24-hour society. It's the one thing people seem to be able to try and reduce to try and fit everything in," Ms Alexander explained.

 

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