Bad sleep could predict who misses work for more than week. A recent study out of Finland reviewed the records of 25,000 government workers. Researchers found that employees who reported severe sleep disturbances were more likely to take time off from work. Among the reasons: injuries to the back, joints and lower legs, and stress and other mental health issues.
The study, appearing in the April issue of SLEEP, compared workers reporting poor sleep with those who said they slept well. Researchers found that poor sleep patterns were associated with an increase in sick time for injuries. But poor sleep patterns also helped predict whether or not an employee would take extended time off for injuries or mental health reasons. The study showed that sleep patterns were a better prediction tool than poor sleep quality at any one point in time.
For help with troubled sleep, locate an AASM-accredited sleep center