UK workforce 'not getting enough shut-eye'
| Published: 21st April 2007 11:48 |
British workers just aren't getting enough sleep and it is damaging their health and well-being, according to new research.
A study by Travelodge found that just three per cent of the 1,700 subjects in its survey reported they received the recommended eight hours of sleep a night.
And this lack of sleep is leading to depression and makes it more difficult for them to concentrate while at work.
Some 49 per cent described themselves as depressed, while over half said they were fatigued.
Chris Idzikowski of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre said: "You cannot put a price on a good night's quality sleep.
"Quick fixes such as coffee, tea and energy drinks are not that useful. While coffee might boost alertness for a short tame it will not necessarily prevent tiredness - so the chances of being involved in a road traffic accident increase."
He added: "A good quota of sleep isn't just good for our health and welfare; it's also beneficial to our looks and even our wallets. The money we are wasting to recover from sleep deprivation could be saved just by better sleep management."
