Answer to Question #186202 in Management for Kowsar Ahmed

Question

Sleep deprivation can be extremely hazardous to health. What are the key health issues and how should an organization seek to manage the problems that arise from sleep deprivation?

Answer 1

Sleep deprivation is a term that defines the state caused by voluntary or involuntary insufficient sleep and circadian rhythm sleep disorders. The most common sleep deprivation symptoms include excessive daytime drowsiness and impairment such as slow thinking, reduced concentration, mood change, and feeling extremely tired during the day. Furthermore, Sleep deprivation can be caused by personal issues such as financial, family problems, poor mental health, and workplace situations, including unrealistic time pressure, long commuting periods, and irregular working hours.

However, prolonged sleep deprivation may result in serious health problems such as high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and heart failure. Therefore sleep deprivation can impact employees' well-being, productivity as well as contribute to serious health problems.

Cutting back on sleep doesn't make anyone perform better. Rather, it reduces individual productivity at work due to poor concentration, slow thinking while making decisions, cause unnecessary workplace accidents, and chronic illness associated with lack of enough sleep.

The organization's management can help workers prevent sleep deprivation by raising awareness of the importance of enough sleep and putting it into practice. Discouraging excessive use of electronic appliances outside working hours can also help to curb sleep deprivation among employers. Therefore the management can restrain the use of electronics after work by introducing policies that limit after-work communications and minimize employees expected availability after working hours. Additionally, providing worker's opportunity for a short nap can help restore energy levels and improve their performance and moods.

According to British Medical Journal 2016, the best strategy to impede sleep deprivation in shift workers is to arrange forward rotating shifts for more flexible scheduling and avoid imposing unrealistic time pressure on workers.