Cost of Fatigue in the Workplace

Fatigue is estimated to cost employers about $136 billion a year in health-related lost productivity, and more than 70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder.

But the cost of fatigue is not just measured in lost productivity. Chronic sleep deprivation also causes depression, obesity, cardiovascular disease and a host of other illnesses.

In the workplace, fatigue and sleepiness – caused by sleep disorders, shift work and sleep deprivation – contribute to:

• Absenteeism
• Presenteeism (poor performance at work)
• Occupational injuries
• Workplace accidents

It's a big problem that few people spend time thinking about. But recently, industry leaders have begun drawing attention to this issue, and employers are in an ideal position to educate employees on how to stay healthier by getting a good night's sleep.

Here's How the Cost Calculator Was Developed

The Brigham and Women's Hospital Sleep Matters Initiative and the National Safety Council have developed this calculator to estimate the cost of sleep deficiency for individual businesses.  The calculator uses information entered by the employer and peer-reviewed, scientific research. The results can be used to estimate the potential return on investment of implementingn a sleep health program in the workplace.