A cross-country survey of office workers has found close to half of those people are taking their troubles home, which is causing issues with their sleep patterns.
Conducted by an independent research firm for the temporary staffing company Accountemps, the survey included more than 500 workers across Canada and found close to half were losing sleep over issues at their jobs.
Stating problems with their workload, interpersonal relationships and difficulties within the business, a total of 39 per cent of those surveyed stated they had sleepless nights because of the anxiety stemming from work.
“This is the first time we’ve asked these specific questions, but along the same themes, we have asked questions related to working tired and stress,” said Natasha Ferraro, public relations manager for Robert Half — the company that owns Accountemps.
Delving further into the survey, men noted they experienced more sleeplessness over job-related issues (at 43 per cent) than women did (38 per cent) while younger workers — 18 to 34 years (52 per cent) — were more likely to be consumed by their workload and lie awake thinking about it than older age groups.
When asked the question, “How often do you lose sleep over work?” 48 per cent stated, not very often, while 11 per cent checked, very often, and 28 per cent, somewhat often.
As a follow up, those who indicated they were losing sleep over work were asked to cite what the root causes were.
Forty-six per cent responded they were overwhelmed with the volume and hours at work as well as being unable to get a problem from work out of their head. A further 21 per cent noted a strained relationship with a co-worker was the issue, 18 per cent worried they may lose their job and 12 per cent explained it was nightmare of a boss that kept them awake. (The survey allowed for multiple responses to this question).
Canadian president of Accountemps, David King, explained it’s challenging to leave work behind mostly because people are far more connected to their job even after they walk out of the office.
“If work is weighing on you, schedule time with your manager to address your concerns. Be clear about the off-hours impact it’s having on you and discuss where you can adjust deadlines, bring in extra help, or share projects to alleviate pressure,” he said, adding bosses need to actively offer support and check on staff to maintain productivity.
“Well-rested employees are often more engaged and productive. Providing your teams with the resources to prioritize and collaborate effectively will ensure they are able to keep business goals on track – without compromising work-life balance.”