| Area of Business | Well-rested Staff | Fatigued Staff |
| Productivity |
Are more productive |
Are less productive |
| |
- are better able to manage workloads
- are more creative
- are more team focused
- are more productive.
|
- Sleeping for less than 5 hours a night can inhibit performance to the same extent as being legally drunk.
- A study from Circadian technologies showed that regularly working 60+ hours a week leads to a performance decline of up to 25%.
|
| Safety |
Make fewer errors |
Are a greater safety risk |
| |
- make fewer errors and take fewer risks.
|
- It has been shown that fatigued people are more likely to take risks (even in the battlefield).
- The Exxon Valdeez, Challenger Space Shuttle, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island and Herald of Free Enterprise (to name a few) catastrophes were all attributable to human fatigue.
|
| Absenteeism |
Are less likely to be absent |
Are more susceptible to ill health |
| |
- are less susceptible to illness
- have better long-term health
- are less prone to stress.
|
- Poor quality sleep has been scientifically documented to increase the risk of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.
- Fatigue also reduces the body’s immune system meaning staff are more susceptible to common illnesses such as colds and flu.
- Stress and fatigue are common companions.
|
| Presenteeism |
Achieve more during the day |
Achieve less during the day |
| |
- are more proactive
- rarely report that fatigue interferes with their work
- suffer less from the circadian dip.
|
- Fatigued staff are more likely to suffer from lower morale.
- They also suffer more from the natural drowsy spell in the afternoon caused by our circadian rhythm.
- They report that fatigue interferes with their work on a regular basis.
|
| Work life balance |
Lead a more balanced life |
Struggle with conflicting responsibilities |
| |
- are able to make a full contribution in all aspects of life
- are happier
- are less stressed.
|
- Fatigued people do not have the energy to make a full contribution to all aspects of their lives – leading to stress and feelings of resentment. They also suffer in their professional relationships and personal relationships.
- Fatigued people become overwhelmed by their responsibilities.
|
| Staff engagement |
Are more engaged at work |
Are less engaged at work |
| |
- A good work life balance translates into better staff engagement.
|
- Poor work life balance translates to low staff engagement. In turn this results in lower productivity, and increased absence.
- Working relationships become compromised. Fatigued staff are less co-operative and team-orientated.
|
| Communication |
Communicate better |
Suffer from poor communication |
| |
- Well rested people are better able to express themselves. They have better mental and verbal reasoning.
|
- It is proven that fatigue leads to a reduction in our vocabulary. Our communication becomes disjointed.
|
| The bottom line |
Contribute more |
Cost more |
| |
- Make stronger contributions at work, are less likely to be absent and are more productive – which has a strong positive effect on the bottom line.
|
- Fatigued staff are more prone to absenteeism, presenteeism and reduced productivty – all of which have a negative impact on your bottom line.
|
