As an employer, your inclination is probably to make your employees work as hard as possible and earn their income. The working hours and the average hourly wage rate is proof of that.
However, you also want your employees to be productive, and getting a good night’s sleep is one of the most effective ways to do so. The employees should be mainly responsible for ensuring they are well rested for the next day, but you can also play a role in helping them get better sleep.
Here is how you can do that:
Stick to Office Hours
Just about every employee has at one time been told to work after office hours whether they received overtime or not. The result is that it can affect the rest of their day and lead them to get less sleep than they would otherwise have gotten.
Therefore, as an employer, if you want your employers to get more rest, you should restrict work to working hours. If there is any leftover work, you should delegate it to someone on another shift or plan to finish it later. Doing so will make you a better leader and inspire loyalty in your employees.
Help Your Employees to Fully Switch Off in the Evenings
Employees may have a hard time getting enough sleep because they cannot switch off at night for various reasons. They may have work to do or the next day’s lingering in their minds. You can help your employees switch off in the evening if you want them fully rested and ready for work the next day.
Melatonin is a natural hormone that aids in sleep. However, your employees may not be able to produce enough melatonin to sleep well at night. You can provide your employees with melatonin supplements, and melatonin only takes 20-30 minutes to ‘work.’
It will help them produce enough melatonin after work to fall asleep at the right time and get enough sleep. Not bothering them at night will also be helpful.
Allow Natural Light At The Workplace
Natural light aids the body’s natural clock and helps people function according to their natural circadian rhythms. Unfortunately, many offices only have artificial light, which can negatively affect sleep as the body’s clock is disrupted all day.
Creating a skylight or having large windows that allow natural light into the workplace can substantially benefit employees’ sleep. It will also help improve their mental health, which natural light has been shown to do. The result is that they will be well-rested and productive when the next day comes.
Offer Flexible Working Hours
Everybody is different, and not everyone functions optimally during the typical nine to five workday. Some may be more productive early in the day, while others will work better later.
Some work may not necessarily have to be done at the office, and the employees can do it at home, where they are more likely to adhere to their sleep routine.
As an employer, you should explore various flexible working options and discover how it affects your employees. Find the times when your employees are more productive and can get better sleep then make the appropriate changes.
Create a Less Stressful Environment
Many workplaces are some of the most stressful places you will ever see. Stress has a significant and detrimental effect on sleep. Therefore, if you want your employees to sleep better, consider making the workplace a less stressful environment.
That may include providing counseling or psychiatry sessions at the office, offering rest places, or creating a game or relaxation room. If your employees are less stressed, they will sleep better and be more productive.
Employers are slowly discovering the benefits of sleep in their lives and those of employees. As an employer, you should take active steps to ensure your employees are getting the rest they need.
The above are some ways to do that. Evaluate your organization and develop ways to suit your employees specifically and help them sleep better.
Leave a Reply