Workplace stress keeping you up at night? Almost 40 per cent of Australian workers dissatisfied with their sleep.

One workplace expert is urging workers to prioritise sleep on World Day for Safety and Health at Work on 28 April to minimise the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation in the workplace.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) supported day falls on a weekend this year, giving Australian workers a prime opportunity to reset the clock on any unhealthy sleep schedules.

Lead researcher of global HR think-tank Reventure, Dr McMillan said a survey of more than 1,000 Australian workers showed 38 per cent were dissatisfied with their sleep patterns.

“More than one-third of Australian workers are dissatisfied with their sleep pattern and are more likely to also be dissatisfied with their physical wellbeing and their job,” he said.

“Whether you work in an office or on a construction site, getting enough quality sleep is important to safety and overall health and wellbeing, so it is crucial that we make it a priority.

“With the rise and rise of mobile devices in the workplace, some workers are finding it hard to switch off from work, which can also undermine healthy sleep patterns.”

Dr McMillan said the changing nature of work has also contributed to the loss of sleep for some workers.

“Getting enough sleep is especially difficult for those working irregular shifts and it is a challenge more workers will face in the future with the increase of jobs that offer non-traditional hours.”

Other sleep statistics include:

• 54 per cent of dissatisfied sleepers are looking for a new job in the next 12 months.
• 40 per cent of dissatisfied sleepers feel as though their life has no sense of meaning.
• 42 per cent of dissatisfied sleepers feel very/ extremely stressed about finances.
• 37 per cent of dissatisfied sleepers feel very/extremely stressed about work.
• 24 per cent of dissatisfied sleepers feel very/extremely stressed about health and fitness.

Dr McMillan said employers should make sure that work is not interrupting rest and relaxation time.

“Making sure workloads are manageable and that expectations are reasonable will reduce the overtime that is eating into rest time,” Dr McMillan said.

The Workplace Wellbeing report is a national survey of over 1,000 Australian workers on workplace wellbeing and the programs that seek to support it.

What’s your experience with workplace stress and ensuring good sleep? Do you have any tips or tricks? Let us know: nurseuncut@nswnma.asn.au