Britain's grumpy bosses need some sleep

Don't be surprised if your boss is in a foul mood this morning. According to a report released today, a quarter of Britain's bosses are likely to be grumpy at work because of too little sleep.

The research, carried out by Mori for independent think-tank Demos and the Ikea chain found half of sleep-deprived managers admitted to shouting at colleagues because of tiredness. Nineteen percent said they were likely to make mistakes. And these are the ones who admitted it!

'On any working day, 25% of all managers in Britain are likely to be in a bad mood because they have not slept well. These sleep-deprived and shouty managers with a tendency to make mistakes are responsible for millions of British workers. It's hardly a recipe for good management,' said Charles Leadbeater, author of Dream On: Sleep in the 24/7 Society.

People aged 35-44 think they are the most sleep deprived in Britain (48% say they do not get enough sleep, compared to 39% of the general population). Children were the main reason behind sleepless nights, while worrying about work is the biggest cause of wakefulness at night among managers (15%, compared to 7% of the general population).

Britain is already recognised as having a long-hours work culture which affects people's well-being, Demos say. But Dream On exposes how a combination of long hours and high-pressure jobs is affecting people's sleep, and creating a vicious circle of tiredness and stress. The report argues that sleep is the forgotten dimension of the work/life balance debate.

'A small loss of sleep is likely to have a big impact on people who lead stressful lives,' says Leadbeater. 'Stressed out parents are already not sleeping enough. They are the people most likely to have their sleep disrupted and they are least able to recover. This cocktail needs to be tackled by employers and policy-makers to reduce the sleep deficit, and its impact of families and workplaces.'

Overall the report argues that we need a change in our attitudes to sleep, so that working long hours and borrowing from sleep time is no longer seen as evidence of a busy, successful person. 

Demos reports are often marked by their innovative suggestions for solving problems and this one is no different. To solve the problem, the report suggested filling city centers with 'shut-eye pods' which would operate on the same principle as coin-operated toilets, allowing people to take a quick nap. It also encourages people to nap at work and recommends awarding 'catch-up days', particularly to those with young children.