Workers 'suffering from lack of sleep'

A sleep deprivation “epidemic” is spreading through the British workforce, with few people getting a good night’s rest, according to a new report today.

Police officers, doctors, nurses and tradesmen and women are worst-affected, sleeping for only around six hours a night, research found.

Hotel chain Travelodge surveyed 5,200 professional workers and found that 97% slept for less than eight hours a night.

The company estimated that most employees are losing more than one complete night’s sleep every seven days, equivalent to two and a half years in a working lifetime.

Company doctors had the least sleep, at 5.9 hours a night, although 8% said they managed only four hours, equivalent to seven years during the course of their career.

Wayne Munnelly, Travelodge’s director of sleep, said: “A notable trend has emerged from the top 10 list of sleep-deprived professions.

“The majority work ever-changing shifts, which are notorious for confusing your body clock, meaning disrupted sleep.

“In order to stay healthy and alert when working shifts, it’s important to be organised – plan time for sleep in advance.”

Results also revealed that company directors work the longest hours, with 16% admitting they regularly stay up until 2am.

These late night workers are closely followed by 43% of journalists who do not turn in until 1am.

Marketing executives, recruitment consultants and students had the most sleep, the research found.

The report said the top 10 most sleep-deprived professions are:

Company directors (averaging 5.9 hours of sleep a night)

Ambulance crew/paramedics (6 hours)

Tradesmen (6 hours)

Leisure and hospitality workers (6 hours)

Police officers (6.1 hours)

Factory workers (6.2 hours)

Nurses (6.3 hours)

Engineers (6.3 hours)

Doctors (6.4 hours)

Civil servants (6.4 hours).