Nearly Half of U.S. Employees Indulge in This Controversial Habit While Working Their 9-5, New Research Reveals Many of those that do don't feel guilty about it, either.
By Amanda Breen Edited by Jessica Thomas
Key Takeaways
- A third of U.S. adults are not getting sufficient rest, contributing to an estimated $44.6 billion in annual productivity losses.
- Despite potential job risks, including terminations reported in Massachusetts, some employees make up for it on the job.
If you find yourself hitting the snooze button when your alarm clock goes off in the morning, you're not alone.
One in three U.S. adults report not getting enough rest or sleep every day, and 50 to 70 million Americans suffer from chronic sleep disorders, per the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Related: 10 Secrets to Sleeping Better — And Being More Productive the Next Day
Not surprisingly, employees who don't get adequate rest won't perform at their best — resulting in an estimated $44.6 billion in lost productivity every year, according to research from Casper and Gallup.
And many of them are making up for lost sleep during the workday, per new research from online sleep retailer MattressNextDay.
According to the report, which surveyed 1,500 people nationwide to find out how often and where the average American naps, nearly half of U.S. employees (44.67%) admitted to napping at work or school.
Related: How to Maximize Your Productivity By Focusing on Daily Activities Like Sleep
What's more, 10% of those surveyed said that they're not only napping on their lunch break but also while they're supposed to be on the job.
That's despite the fact that in some workplaces, sleeping during working hours is grounds for termination: Last year, the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority fired eight employees for sleeping on the job, the Boston Herald reported.
Still, nearly one in 10 employees surveyed admitted to catching some sleep in a cubicle or private office.
They're in no rush to change their behavior either: Almost half of respondents (41%) said they don't feel guilty about napping during their 9-5s.
