Peninsula Ireland, a Dublin based employment law consultancy firm have today released research which shows that 61% of employees admit to falling asleep at work. In addition, 72% of employees regularly drink caffeinated drinks in order to stay awake.
Alan Price, managing director of Peninsula Ireland said, "Employees falling asleep on-the-job are a health and safety nightmare; bosses need to wake up and take action. An employee falling asleep at work is a danger to themselves and their fellow colleagues. I am compelled to give employers a rude awakening – tiredness can kill. Extreme as this statement may seem, employees who aren’t getting enough sleep in their own time are a hazard to themselves and those around them. In sectors that require a high level of concentration, and a clear understanding of health and safety processes and requirements, falling asleep mid-task could cause a fatal accident.
If the case is, that employees aren’t getting enough sleep due to lifestyle choices or social events, then employers need to stress the importance of sleep and make it clear that staying up late and neglecting the health and safety of fellow colleagues is unacceptable. Neglecting sleep is also bad for mental health and concentration. For employees regularly driving long-distances for work, a lapse in concentration could cost more than just the repairs of a damaged company vehicle – people’s lives are at stake."
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