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According to the Wall Street Journal, Harvard scientists estimate that sleep deprivation costs U.S. companies $63.2 billion every year “mainly because of ‘presenteeism,’ people showing up for work but operating at subpar levels.”

Sleep deprivation is a prevalent health issue for Americans — and for their employers. Because of longer working hours, personal obligations, digital distractions, and sleep disorders, 30% of Americans workers don’t get enough sleep. This trend undermines health and well-being while negatively affecting the bottom line for companies.

Sleep Deprivation Leads to Decreased Performance

The connection between sleep and work performance is well-documented. One clear example reveals that individuals who sleep less than six or more than 10 hours a night take 4.6 to 8.9 more sick days per year. In Employer Benefits News, health care executive Douglas Metz summarizes the precise impact of sleep on different aspects of employee performance:

“Sleep supports optimal mental focus and capability, including attitude, learning and recall, decision-making, prioritization capability, attention to detail, accuracy, conflict resolution, and communication style: all key qualities that employees need to deliver effective business results.”

When companies fail to support important sleep practices, they undermine the success of their employees and long-term prospects of their organizations.

Lack of Sleep Contributes to Chronic Disease

Research from Harvard Medical School also suggests that without sleep, individuals are more susceptible to chronic diseases such as mood disorders, alcohol dependency, diabetes, obesity, and poor immune function. Metz cites a statistic that states, “Chronic sleeplessness of less than six hours per night can increase by 48% the likelihood of a heart-related problem earlier in life than typically expected.” A perpetual lack of sleep among employees will inevitably raises health care costs for employers.

The National Sleep Foundation suggests that adults get between seven and nine hours of sleep for optimal health. HR executives would benefit from developing an educational program that provides employees with this much-needed information, emphasizing the connections between sleep, health, and job performance.