In today’s fast-paced work environment, sleep and wellbeing often take a backseat to productivity and performance. However, the impact of poor sleep on health, safety, and overall job performance cannot be overstated.
Insurtech Insights speaks to world leading neuroscientist and sleep expert Dr Els van der Helm, who sheds light on the critical importance of incorporating sleep and wellbeing training for all employees, not just those in corporate offices.
I always start by getting leadership on board. It’s crucial because if leadership doesn’t prioritise sleep, the rest of the organisation won’t either.
Dr Els Vanderhelm
Dr Els is an adjunct professor at IE Business School in Madrid. Renowned globally for her expertise, she also lectures at esteemed institutions including St. Gallen and IMD Business Schools. Recognised among the top five sleep experts worldwide by Thrive Global, she advises global corporations on optimising sleep, performance, and wellbeing strategies.
With a background rooted in neuroscience research at Harvard and UC Berkeley, and prior corporate experience at McKinsey & Company, they specialise in crafting evidence-based corporate sleep programs. Their impactful contributions have garnered widespread recognition in prestigious publications and media outlets, solidifying their status as a sought-after keynote speaker and advisor.
Can you tell us about the current approach to sleep and wellbeing training in companies?
What I often see is that sleep and wellbeing training is primarily directed at knowledge workers or sometimes even only at people in the headquarters. Frontline employees are often overlooked, yet they are the ones who struggle the most with sleep. These employees typically face more significant challenges, such as longer commutes, multiple jobs, financial stress, and sometimes even discrimination or racism. These factors make it harder for them to get good sleep, which is why it’s crucial to include them in these training programmes. Focusing only on knowledge workers or headquarters staff misses a large and critical segment of the workforce who could benefit the most from sleep and wellbeing interventions.
You recently spoke at Insurtech Insights USA 2024 in New York. What did your session focus on – and how does sleep impact the insurance industry?
My session was aimed at raising awareness about the importance of sleep. I’m was somewhat of an outlier at the conference, which is heavily focused on insurance. But sleep is a fundamental aspect of health and performance. I began by explaining the science behind sleep, particularly what happens to our bodies and minds when we don’t get enough of it. This was to ensure that the audience understood the severity and breadth of sleep deprivation’s impact. For instance, if you need an alarm to wake up, rely on caffeine to get through the day, or feel sleepy during monotonous tasks, these are clear indicators that you’re not getting adequate sleep. Such signs are vital for people to recognize so they can take steps to improve their sleep habits.
What practical advice can you offer to improve sleep?
One key area is sleep quality and wakefulness. If you’re waking up in the middle of the night isn’t necessarily a problem if you can fall back asleep within five to ten minutes. This helps alleviate unnecessary worry about waking during the night. We also talked about the importance of relaxation, as stress is one of the biggest enemies of good sleep quality.
Techniques for managing stress can significantly improve how well we sleep. Additionally, we delved into the timing of sleep, recognising that people have different chronotypes—morning types, evening types, and those in between. Getting the timing right for your specific body clock is just as crucial as the quantity and quality of sleep.
How widespread is the issue of poor sleep?
Poor sleep is a significant issue in the US. Data shows that 50 to 70 million people suffer from chronic sleep disorders. Recent surveys reveal that 35% of Americans get fewer than seven hours of sleep each night, even though the recommended amount is seven to nine hours. This means a substantial portion of the population is chronically sleep-deprived. The consequences are far-reaching.
Poor sleep is linked to various health issues, including cardiometabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and even cancer. However, the immediate effects are also severe—poor sleep can lead to increased blood pressure and a higher likelihood of depression and anxiety. These health issues not only affect individuals but have broader implications for public health and healthcare costs.
How does poor sleep affect safety and risk?
Poor sleep significantly increases the risk of accidents, both at work and at home. For example, during daylight saving time, when people lose about 40 minutes of sleep, there’s a notable increase in accidents. This provides a natural experiment for researchers to study the effects of sleep deprivation. Lack of sleep makes individuals more prone to errors, especially when operating machinery or driving.
This has critical implications for workplace safety and insurance, as the likelihood of accidents increases when employees are sleep-deprived. Companies need to recognise that investing in their employees’ sleep health can lead to safer work environments and reduce the risk of costly accidents.
Has the quality of sleep changed over the years?
It’s challenging to say definitively because we don’t have comprehensive longitudinal studies tracking the same individuals over decades. However, during COVID-19, we observed that some people started sleeping better, particularly those with long commutes or those who are strong evening types. The pandemic allowed them to adjust their schedules to better suit their natural sleep patterns.
This highlights the need for more flexibility in work schedules to improve sleep. While it’s difficult to compare sleep quality over the decades accurately, these observations suggest that structural changes in how we work and live can significantly impact sleep quality.
How do you work with organisations to improve sleep among employees?
I always start by getting leadership on board. It’s crucial because if leadership doesn’t prioritise sleep, the rest of the organisation won’t either. I work with CEOs and their teams to help them understand the neuroscience of performance and wellbeing.
Once they experience the benefits of better sleep, they’re more motivated to promote it within their organisation. Role modelling is also important—they need to share their experiences and discuss sleep openly with their teams. After leadership is engaged, the next step is to implement strategies that can help all employees. This can include flexible scheduling, setting norms around email and work communications, and creating an environment that supports good sleep hygiene.
Why is it important to include frontline employees in sleep and wellbeing training?
Frontline employees often face more significant challenges when it comes to getting good sleep. These challenges can include longer commutes, multiple jobs, financial stress, and other socio-economic factors that can disrupt sleep.
Improving sleep for these employees can have a substantial impact on their overall wellbeing and performance. Leaders need to recognise this and ensure that training and resources are available to all employees, not just those in the head office. It’s about creating an inclusive approach that addresses the needs of the entire workforce.
What are your thoughts on companies offering nap pods?
I have mixed feelings about nap pods. In companies with poor work-life balance, nap pods can be seen as a band-aid solution, allowing long work hours to continue. It’s important to adjust company culture and have leaders model healthy behaviours.
Nap pods can be beneficial, especially for those who didn’t sleep well at night due to various reasons. However, proper education on the right way to nap—timing, duration—is crucial. If implemented correctly, nap pods can offer much-needed relief and help employees recharge, but they should be part of a broader strategy to improve overall sleep health, including flexible work schedules and a supportive work environment.
