According to an article titled, “Many Grouchy, Error-Prone Workers Just Need More Sleep,” nearly one-third of American citizens are sleep deprived on a regular basis. As a result, many employees suffer from productivity loss, mistakes, and harmful accidents in the workplace. In fact, a report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation states that about 33% of American obtain less than seven hours of sleep every night.
How Can Lack of Sleep Affect an Employee in the Workplace?
A sleep psychologist from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, William David Brown, has found that Americans sacrifice more sleep as each year passes. He adds that missing a single night of sleep can be the equivalent of having a blood alcohol concentration of roughly 0.1, which is above the legal limit to operate a vehicle.
According to Brown, nearly one-third of employees in a big company are working under conditions that make them equal to the impairment level of being intoxicated. This lack of sleep affects the following:
- Brain function
- Memory
- Heart health
- Makes a person more prone to depression
- Makes a person more prone to develop diabetes
Additionally, the Joint Commission Journal on Quality and Patient Safety reports that medical residents who are assigned to 24-hour shifts make five times the amount of errors as those individuals who slept more. Of course, any employee who has not obtained the correct amount of sleep is more susceptible to committing dangerous errors while on the job.
Are Sleep Pods a Thing of the Future?
As of 2011, 6% of employers offered sleep pods and nap rooms, according to The Society for Human Resource Management. As of last year, that percentage dropped to 2%. The CEO of MetroNaps states that the pods his company offers look like capsules that cocoon the sleeper’s head, offer soothing sounds, and dim the lights. He states that companies who choose to use these sleep pods can track the usage of the pods, the times at which these pods are being used, and the benefits these pods are providing to their companies. The CEO states that these short naps boost productivity in the workplace.
Have You Been Injured by a Fatigued Worker?
At The Barrera Law Firm, PLLC, our Virginia injury lawyers believe it is crucial that employers monitor the safety of their workers. When employees are fatigued, they can put other persons’ lives at risk. For example, a surgeon who has not obtained the right amount of sleep may commit an error while operating on a patient. A truck driver who has not slept an adequate amount can fall asleep at the wheel and cause another driver to suffer fatal injuries.
Because we care about the safety of others, our team stands ready to fight for those who have been harmed by reckless or negligent individuals. If you or someone you love sustained injuries due to a sleepy person’s errors, get in touch with a Virginia injury attorney from The Barrera Law Firm, PLLC as soon as possible. We can examine your case and determine which legal strategies can help you obtain the monetary compensation you deserve in the shortest amount of time possible.
Don’t wait. Retain the legal advocacy you need by calling our legal team or by filling out a free case evaluation form online. We have recovered millions of dollars on behalf of our clients.