1 summitquestions@valueoptions.com sleep better to live better: restoring energy and vitality to...

1 SummitQuestions@valueoptions.com

Sleep Better to Live Better: Restoring Energy and Vitality

to Your Workforce

Christopher PawsonManager, Employee Assistance Program

Owens Corning

Nerina Ramlakhan, PhDDirector, Equilibrium Solutions

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2SummitQuestions@valueoptions.com

Agenda

• Welcome• Why Sleep Is a Health & Productivity Issue• Special Workplace Concerns• ValueOptions® Sleep Better to Live Better

Program • Typical Sleep Problems • Work Environment Issues • Practical Suggestions for Individuals and

Organizations • Discussion

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The Sleep Crisis

• We are hearing more about sleep deprivation.

• People do not make getting enough restful sleep a priority.

• There is a lack of sleep deprivation awareness and interventions in the workplace.

• There are few resources that address these concerns.

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Workplace Drivers

The need for extended hours is driven by:• An increasing move toward a 24/7

economy• Input from unions• Market demands for products and

services• Lean/streamlined workforce• A global marketplace

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Workplace Responses

How these needs are traditionally met:

• Shift work (rotating and fixed)• Extended shifts (10-16 hour)• On call• Fewer days off• Overtime• Rigid break schedules

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Sleepy Workers

According to the National Sleep Foundation’s 2005 Sleep in America Survey:

•only half of adults say they get a good night’s sleep a few nights a week or more

•one half of all respondents report feeling tired, fatigued or not up to par during wake time at least one day a week

– 17% said this happens every day or almost every day

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The Business Need

to Address Sleep• The business case for addressing sleep

concerns in the workplace:– Safety issues

• Personal well-being of employees• Cost of accident (injuries and property damage)

– Productivity losses• Workplace disruptions• Mistakes• Tardiness, absenteeism, presenteeism• Excessive breaks

– Strained interpersonal relationships• Poor communication• Irritability• Threat of violence and harassment• Unfair workloads

• Estimated cost to U.S. business is $18 billion per year (Source: National Sleep Foundation)

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Special Concern: Shift Work

What can be done during the night shift?

• Reconsider rigid rest break schedule; offer mini-breaks during times of fatigue

• Use float staff to relieve those who need break• Provide bright lighting to simulate day shift• Adjust quotas and metrics for night shift• Move physically and mentally challenging tasks to daytime shifts• Provide training for supervisors to be able to identify symptoms

of fatigue and equip them to respond• Be sensitive to personal reactions and needs of employees• Consider safe travel to and from work• Set shift times based on traffic flow and least disruption to home

life• Offer nutritional information so workers can sustain energy

during shift, get adequate rest after shift

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Solutions for Entire Workforce

What can be done across the entire population?

• Review policies in order to support rested workforce• Ensure benefit plan covers treatment for sleep disorders• Consider flexible-work arrangements

– Flex time– Job share– Compressed hours– Compressed workweek arrangements– Telecommuting– V-Time (voluntary reduced time)– Phased retirement

• Provide lunch & learn sessions • Promote work/life balance: utilize work/life resources (Life

Balance Solutions)• Promote EAP to help meet these concerns

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Sleep Better to Live Better

Program Goals

• Improve the behavior of individuals by offering tools to manage better sleep and to recognize when medical treatment is necessary

• Support leaders in their roles as policy makers and managers of human capital

• Integrate seamlessly with existing wellness programs and exist successfully as a stand-alone offering

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Information and Tools

• Individuals – A dedicated, engaging Web site:

www.valueoptions.com/members/sleepbetter – EAP e-newsletter on “Better Sleep” – Achieve Solutions home page featured topic, “Better Sleep”

• Organizations– Enhanced CD with information and personal relaxation tools – A Web site for program leaders, with key facts,

considerations and turnkey tools: www.valueoptions.com/clients/sleepbetter

– Client summit Webinars – Consultation with account manager

• Professionals– Training for EAP care management staff and EAP affiliate

providers– Provider e-newsletter article on sleep program and tools – Contribution to professional literature - Journal of Employee

Assistance

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Call to Action

• We have drug-free workplace policies; sleep deprivation has been compared to having symptoms of intoxication. It’s time we step up our awareness and actions to address these concerns.

• We take the stand that every employee will safely arrive home to their loved ones at the end of every workday.

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Questions?

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•Typical sleep problems

• Sleep and your energy

• The anatomy of sleep • Optimal sleep tools

Creating Optimal Sleep

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Typical Sleep Problems

• ‘Tired but wired’• Falling asleep easily, frequent

waking• Waking in early hours, unable to

get back to sleep• Sleeping 7-9 hrs but waking tired• Shallow, ‘thinking’ sleep• Teeth grinding

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Typical Sleep Problems:

Health Symptoms

• Digestive – IBS, ulcers• Immune system• Adrenal fatigue, chronic fatigue• Skin complaints• Endocrine problems• Psychiatric disorders – anxiety,

depression• Addictions

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Typical Sleep Problems:

Organisational

• Low morale, poor relationships• Poor leadership• Poor work/home boundaries• More stress-related illness• More sickness absence and

health insurance claims• Accidents, errors

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Tiredness is thought to have contributed to some of the world’s worst industrial disasters of the 20th century:

• Herald of Free Enterprise• Chernobyl• Exxon Valdez• Bhopal• Three Mile Island

Accidents

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Depth of sleep

Phaseone Two Three Four

Slow wave sleep

Time – 90 - 110 min.

Sleep Cycle Pattern

Dre

am

ing

Five

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How Much Sleep Do We Need?

• CORE SLEEP – “the first three sleep cycles necessary for humans to function properly”

• OPTIONAL SLEEP – “the sleep that can be eliminated without dire consequences”

Stampi, 1995

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The ‘REST’ Sleep Programme

ReassureEducate & EnlightenSafety to sleepTools and techniques

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Sleep Toolkit: Personal

• Wind down rituals• Boundaries / time management• Impact of exercise, diet• Taking breaks during the day• Alcohol, caffeine and stimulants• Sleep elasticity• Sleep mindset• Power naps

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Sleep Toolkit: Organisational

• Primary: Risk assessment, policy• Secondary: Education and

awareness, training – energy, resilience, sleep, nutrition, exercise

• Tertiary: Early referral and treatment

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Sleep Toolkit: Managers

Responsibility to create a culture that is conducive to employees being able to leave work behind them ... and sleep.

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The challengeto expand

the working memory

nerina@equilibriumsolutions.com

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Discussion

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Resources

• Sleep Better to Live Better– www.valueoptions.com/clients/sleepb

etter/– www.valueoptions.com/members/slee

pbetter/

• Achieve Solutions– www.achievesolutions.net/(companyh

andle)