NEWS & EVENTS

Exhausted Employees Cost American Companies Millions of Dollars Annually

​Sleep disorders and sleep deficiency are hidden workplace issues that affect employers across America. New research from the OSHAC reveals that a U.S. employer with 800 workers stands to lose about $9 million each year in absenteeism, diminished productivity and healthcare costs because of exhausted employees, many of whom have undiagnosed and untreated sleep disorders. The costs of fatigue in an average-sized Fortune 300 company climbs to about $50 million annually..

Many of us have been conditioned to just power through our fatigue, but worker health and safety on the job are compromised when we don't get the sleep we need. The calculator demonstrates that doing nothing to address fatigue costs employers a lot more than they think."

According to an OSHAC probability-based survey, 35% of Americans obtain insufficient sleep, jeopardizing safety and impairing their ability to think clearly, make informed decisions and be productive. The survey also found 76% of Americans say they feel tired at work – in step with research showing that most workers routinely get less sleep than they need.

Other findings revealed by the Fatigue Cost Calculator for the OSHAC include:

• A national transportation company with 800 employees likely loses more than $255,000 annually in decreased productivity because of tired employees; motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of workplace deaths, underscoring the need for alert, attentive employees
• More than 200 employees at a 800-worker national construction company likely have sleep disorders, which increase the risk of being injured or killed on the job; the construction industry has the highest number of on-the-job deaths each year.
• A single employee with obstructive sleep apnea can cost an employer more than $1,500 in excess healthcare costs each year
• An employee with untreated insomnia is present but not productive for more than 10 full days of work annually, and accounts for at least $1,500 in excess healthcare costs each year
• An average Fortune 300 company could save nearly $20 million annually if half of its workforce were engaged in a sleep health program

About the OSHAC

The OSHAC is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to eliminate preventable deaths at work, in homes and communities, and on the road through leadership, research, education and advocacy. OSHAC advances this mission by partnering with businesses, elected officials and the public in areas where we can make the most impact.