Almost 40 per cent of Canadian employees are suffering sleepless nights due to work-related anxiety, according to a survey by staffing firm Accountemps.
The survey, which asked more than 500 Canadian employees how often they lose sleep over work, found just 12 per cent of respondents said they never lose sleep over work. Of those who do miss out on shuteye because of work-related stress, 11 per cent said it happens very often and 28 per cent said it happens somewhat often.
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Nearly half (46 per cent) of respondents said being overwhelmed by their work volume or the number of working hours is the cause of sleepless nights. The same percentage of respondents cited an inability to get a work problem off their mind.
“As business needs evolve to keep pace with an increasingly connected and mobile world, it can be challenging to leave our professional lives at the office,” said David King, Canadian president of Accountemps, in a news release. He suggested employees schedule time with their manager to address their concerns, be clear about the off-hours impact and discuss where adjusting deadlines, bringing in extra help or sharing projects could alleviate pressure.
The survey also found 21 per cent of respondents said strained coworker relationships keep them awake, 18 per cent are worried about losing their job and 12 per cent said their boss is a nightmare.
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Younger employees, aged between 18 and 34, were more likely (52 per cent) to be kept awake by a heavy workload or long working hours, compared to workers aged between 35 and 54 (43 per cent) and those over the age of 55 (33 per cent).
Broken down further, 43 per cent of male respondents to the survey said they suffer sleepless nights often compared to 37 per cent of female respondents.
“Well-rested employees are often more engaged and productive. Providing your teams with the resources to prioritize and collaborate effectively will ensure they are able to keep business goals on track, without compromising work-life balance,” said King.
Read: Why employers stand to gain by helping their employees sleep