Workers are getting less than the prescribed eight hours of sleep each night, with worries over the credit crunch triggering a national insomnia.
This is according to a new survey by budget hotel chain, Travelodge, which polled 4,000 UK workers and found that 75% aren’t getting enough sleep.
Topping the professional’s sleep deprivation poll are estate agents, who are only getting five hours and 50 minutes sleep a night – more than two hours less than the daily recommended.
Lorry and taxi drivers are sharing an average of just six hours and 16 minutes a night, with worries over rising fuel prices keeping them up until the early hours. Bankers claim third position with just six hours and 23 minutes. This compares to those working in media and creative industries which report the most sleep at seven hours and 12 minutes.
Leigh McCarron, director of sleep at Travelodge, said: “It is no surprise that the professions in the industries worst hit by the credit crunch come top of the charts. We all know that money worries and job security are key drivers of stress which, in turn, lead to significant sleep loss.”
The research also identified more than a third of the UK workforce claims they just can’t switch off from work at any time. For 23% of workers, their first thought of the day will be about their job and 32% of employees will drift off to sleep thinking of work.
