Mon Mar 3, 6:14 PM ET

NEW YORK - Hey you! Dozing at your desk! Wake up, go home and get more sleep! That could be the message from a survey released Monday by the National Sleep Foundation. The survey of 1,000 people found participants average six hours and 40 minutes of sleep a night on weeknights, even though they estimated they'd need roughly another 40 minutes of sleep to be at their best.

Roughly one-third of those surveyed said they had fallen asleep or become very sleepy at work in the past month.

Just how big a deal that is depends, of course, on your job. Last week, the chairman of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission acknowledged it should have done more to investigate a tip that security guards routinely took naps while on the job at a Pennsylvania nuclear plant.

It wasn't until a videotape of guards sleeping in a "ready room" at the Peach Bottom plant in south-central Pennsylvania surfaced several months after it got the tip that the NRC announced in September a special investigation.

While sleepy workers know they're not performing as well as they could during the day, work is what's keeping them up nights, according to the survey, which found workdays are getting longer and time spent working from home averages close to four-and-a-half hours each week.

It seems people are also trying to squeeze in more time for themselves and their families, even if it means less sleep. The average wake up is at 5:35 a.m. and it's followed by about two hours and 15 minutes at home before heading out to work, according to the survey. Average bedtime is 10:53.

*

I heard that on the news today. Employers these days are definitely treating employees like robots. I am thankful i'm not in the career industry right now and frankly i'm in no hurry to enter it. Something is not right here and i wish that this article and others would encourage corporations and employers to give people a break. Nobody should be working more than 40 hours a week, but i know too many people who do and it's sad because by the time they get home for the night they are too tired to enjoy life.

I had a German class a few years ago back in high school, and my teacher is from one of those European (around germany) countries, i believe she said Germany has a good work force. Something about they are allowed more vacations, more sick time, etc., i wish it can be like that over here, a lot of people i know have a lot of trouble getting these breaks. At a past job, my boyfriend couldn't even take a sick day without them interrogating the crap out of him and demanding a doctor's excuse.

I get 6-7. I'm at my best with 10 hours. But my lack of sleep is a lot my fault...and my internal clock, which has always been set to night owl.


At a past job, my boyfriend couldn't even take a sick day without them interrogating the crap out of him and demanding a doctor's excuse.

That pisses me off. HUMANS GET SICK. We don't always need to see a doctor either. I know some people abuse it, but those people often make it obvious by being gone A LOT.

Exactly, and with the wages he recieved with absolutely NO health benefits until you work there for like half a year, he couldn't have gone to the doctor ANYWAY. I mean if it isn't illegal to pry into your employee's life yet, it should be. Just like it should be illegal to pay such low wages and not offer benefits to people.

I think the French work a shorter workweek too, not sure. I agree junecleaver, that working people like mules is counterproductive. Morale is very important in the workplace, and when you've got a bunch of pissed off, tired people who barely have time for anything but work, it makes for a toxic work atmosphere.

I worked in corporate for years. I would get up every morning at 6:30, get ready, and I had to dress the part. I'd leave 7:45 to be at my desk at the required 8:45. Nice hour commute. I had Howard Stern to make it tolerable. Only problem was laughing alone in the car at redlights. :lol: Leave work at 5, and I was one on the lucky ones, as some people have longer shifts. Get home at 6, if I didn't have to stop and get groceries.

Once home, quick shower, make dinner, clean up, get clothes and accessories ready for the next day. My day started at 6:30am and ended at 7:30pm. In bed at 11:30. That's four hours of the day that I could call my own.

On weekends, one day was devoted to errands, picking up dry cleaning, shopping, housework, hairdresser, whatever. If I was lucky, I could relax the other weekened day, but there was usually a family or friend social event to attend. Six years ago, I threw in the towel, and decided that nobody was going to own me. I had planned to take some time off and return to work part-time, closer to home, but unfortunately, life had other plans in store for me.

I'm retired. My husband is officially retiring next month, so work is history for both of us. I hate the corporate grind. It's insane to me. I did it for a couple of decades. I don't think it's any way to live. It's not even living, as far as I'm concerned. I think of the women who have to take care of kids too. Just shoot me. I never looked back, and I've never regretted my decision. [end rant/]

Yesterday we had to work form 5 am to 7:30 pm. which means I got 5 hours sleep. Thank God I had leftovers in the fridge and no kids to take care of.

Many of my co-workers have shifting schedules. Which is horrid. The close one night, then then open the next morning. Which generally means they work 3-11pm an then 7-4. That's if they are lucky.

I used to have a shifting schedule like that. I never knew when my days off would be until two weeks in advance and on any given day I'd work until midnight and then have to be up and at work at 8am. 7am if there is a store meeting. One day I overslept. First time in my life I ever did that. Missed a meeting and my shift that began at 8. I went to bed as soon as I got home and set my alarm. Obviously that wasn't good enough. They were not forgiving. They place greater emphasis on meetings than anything else.


These days I'm better. I start at 2:30pm and end at 10:30. No opening, just closing. I also have regular days off.

Most are not so fortunate.

Yup. Fortune 500 company.... :crazy:

I had to do that close/open thing once at Kohl's. I was pissed, so I told the supervisor that it took me a long time to drive to work and could I come in an hour later. And she said yes. 20/25 minute drive, but I made it sound like an hour. I didn't want to go home just to sleep and go back to work. BARF.

Yesterday we had to work form 5 am to 7:30 pm. which means I got 5 hours sleep. Thank God I had leftovers in the fridge and no kids to take care of.

Boy, there are so many days where i wonder how life would be if i did have a kid or two. Right now obviously it would be stressful, but when i look into the future i really dont know how i can do it. Times are so different, back in the 1950's and such (so i've heard) the husband could go to work and the wife could stay at home and take care of the kids and actually live comfortably. Now, i dont agree with the wife at home man at work thing for myself, i mean that we should have the option of being stay at home parents (stay at home mom or dad) and still live comfortably. Our workforce needs a huge makeover if you ask me.

Many of my co-workers have shifting schedules. Which is horrid. The close one night, then then open the next morning. Which generally means they work 3-11pm an then 7-4. That's if they are lucky.

I used to have a shifting schedule like that. I never knew when my days off would be until two weeks in advance and on any given day I'd work until midnight and then have to be up and at work at 8am. 7am if there is a store meeting. One day I overslept. First time in my life I ever did that. Missed a meeting and my shift that began at 8. I went to bed as soon as I got home and set my alarm. Obviously that wasn't good enough. They were not forgiving. They place greater emphasis on meetings than anything else.


These days I'm better. I start at 2:30pm and end at 10:30. No opening, just closing. I also have regular days off.

Most are not so fortunate.

Yup. Fortune 500 company.... :crazy:

Yeah, I believe a 5 year old could make better, more logical schedules. I'm just one of those people who like to see how it feels to be in someone else's shoes before making a decision or judgement. If I were a boss, i'd feel downright guily, like s***, for making one of my employees (i dont care if it's my worst enemy) work unreasonable hours such as that. Again, if this is not illegal, it needs to be made illegal.