It’s no secret that sleep is an epic elixir. When we are well rested, our immune system works better, we lower our risk for Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. We think more clearly, solve problems faster and with more creativity, make better decisions, and are more focused and engaged at work.
Lack of sleep, particularly on an ongoing basis over time, can impair job performance, increase the risk of accidents, and contribute to a less productive workforce. And for employers who are already facing high healthcare costs year over year, sleep-starved employees face an increased risk of obesity, heart disease, cognitive decline and depression.
From an organizational perspective, that lack of sleep has direct implications on workplace performance and health plan costs. Sleep deficiency is pervasive, impacting an estimated 43% of U.S. workers and costing employers an estimated $2,280 per employee in lost productivity. And, while it’s widely recognized that healthy adults should enjoy a minimum of seven hours of quality sleep each night, only one in three actually achieve the amount of uninterrupted sleep they need to protect their health and perform their best.
Why is sleep so elusive, when its importance is so easily recognized, and can HR teams help reverse this trend among their workforce and improve health and quality of life for employees?
Lifestyle and Diagnosed Sleep Conditions
Lack of sleep can be influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors, and by our physical health and mental health.
For example, sleep tends to take a back seat when we’re challenged by busy work schedules and family, parenting, or social obligations–all of which increase in the fall for many parents, as children of all ages head back to school. These factors often lead to late nights and early mornings, which cut into sleep time.
Meanwhile, our physical health and mental health can also adversely affect sleep quality and quantity. Sleep apnea is a diagnosed condition in which sleep is interrupted, causing people to stop breathing.
It is commonly associated with snoring, which also interrupts sleep not only for the snorer, but for others around them. Mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression–which can be influenced by stress–can also lead to sleepless nights and impact our personal interactions and our ability to perform during the day.
How HR Teams Can Help
HR teams play an important role in encouraging sleep health among their employees through the benefits they offer, and the information they provide to employees. Most employees–and many HR pros–don’t realize that benefits like flexible spending accounts (FSAs) and health savings accounts (HSAs) can be used to support sleep health and treat conditions that disrupt sleep. Here are five steps HR teams can take to encourage sleep health among their workforce.
- Educate employees about healthy habits, like exercise and a balanced diet that can help individuals manage stress and anxiety. Other lifestyle choices that can help employees achieve a good night’s sleep include limiting caffeine and alcohol; avoiding big meals or spicy foods late at night; curbing screen time before bed; creating a comfortable sleep environment; and creating a repeatable bedtime routine.
- Educate employees about benefits your company offers, like FSAs and HSAs, that allow them to use tax-free healthcare funds to improve their sleep quality. Not only can these funds be used to purchase a wide variety of products and clinical services that contribute to sleep health, but these accounts also support financial wellbeing, they can help ease the burden of paying for healthcare, which contributes to stress and anxiety. Educating employees about FSA and HSA eligibility year ‘round can help them maximize the value of these funds and, for FSA users, this can ensure that they don’t forfeit funds to the December 31 use-it-or-lose-it deadline.
- Promote health plan benefits that diagnose and address underlying health issues that are known contributors to disrupted sleep.
- Encourage the use of mental health benefits that can help employees find relief from stress, depression, anxiety, and other conditions that steal rest from weary workers. Telehealth is a convenient and private way for employees to seek support for mental health needs. And, while it has always been an eligible expense for people enrolled in FSAs and HSAs, thanks to recent changes in legislation, HSA users will no longer be disqualified from contributing to an HSA if their health plan covers telehealth services before their deductible has been met. This makes it even easier for individuals and families to address issues that may be affecting their quality of life.
- Be mindful of the impact that your company’s work schedule, culture, and the nature of the job might be having on sleep routines. Scheduling meetings and work events outside of your employees’ normal work hours can disrupt healthy sleep routines. If your business relies on shift work, be sure to offer ‘round the clock access to lifestyle education, healthy foods, proper hydration, and encourage the use of telehealth services that are accessible at all hours for your team.
Without a doubt, employers pay a high price for their sleep-challenged workforce. Fatigued workers are 70% more likely to be involved in accidents and drive an estimated $31 billion in costs related workplace accidents and mistakes. HR teams can curb costs and help employees sleep better with workplace strategies that combine education and benefits to support a well-rested workforce.
Jenna Everhart is senior vice president of human resources for Health-E Commerce, parent brand to FSA Store and HSA Store, the first and leading online stores for a guaranteed FSA- and HSA-eligible shopping experience, and a go-to industry source for account education.