2026 World Sleep Day Resource

Why you should care about your employees' sleep

Presenteeism costs UK businesses far more than absenteeism - and sleep deprivation sits at the centre of it.

£40bn+: The estimated annual cost to UK employers from poor sleep
11 days: The average productivity lost per employee per year due to sleep deprivation
2.5x higher risk of burnout in employees who regularly sleep fewer than 6 hours
6% of GDP: The estimated global economic impact of insufficient sleep

Download Heka’s 2026 World Sleep Day Guide: A free, shareable guide for HR leaders who want to make rest a genuine business priority.

This guide for your employees includes:

The science of sleep and why it matters at work
A ready-to-share employee sleep hygiene guide
Signposting to EAP resources and further support

Your team performs better when they sleep better.

Did you know:

1 in 3 employees regularly sleeps fewer than 7 hours a night
70% better concentration reported by employees who sleep 7–9 hours
4× more likely to call in sick if sleeping fewer than 6 hours per night

Rested employees don't just feel better. They work better. Poor sleep affects performance across every dimension of work - and the returns on fixing it show up in output quality, culture, and your bottom line:

1 in 3 employees regularly sleeps fewer than 7 hours - and it's showing up at work. Poor sleep affects performance across every dimension:

🧠 Sharper decision-making: Up to 40% decline in problem-solving after just one poor night's sleep.
💡 Greater creativity: Well-rested teams generate more novel solutions and connect ideas more effectively.
🎯 Sustained focus: Sleep deprivation impairs attention like being legally drunk - with real implications for accuracy and safety.
🤝 Better collaboration: Sleep-deprived managers score 20% lower on leadership effectiveness ratings.