Moody managers need more kip

One in four British managers is in a bad mood today because they aren't getting enough sleep, according to a report by think-tank Demos on behalf of flat-pack furniture monolith IKEA.

Report author Charles Leadbeater said: "On any working day, a quarter of all managers in Britain are likely to be in a bad mood because they have not slept well. These sleep-deprived and shouty managers with a tendency to make mistakes are responsible for millions of British workers. It's hardly a recipe for good management."

But while half of managers admitted that lack of sleep made them irritable and more likely to shout at staff, a measly 19 per cent reckoned lack of sleep made them more likely to make mistakes.

The reports authors believe that Britain's long working hours culture combined with lack of sleep is creating a vicious circle. Stressed working parents are the most likely to have their sleep disrupted and they are least able to recover. They believe we need to change our attitude to sleep and stop regarding people who work all hours as admirable and successful.

In the future the report predicts there will be a growing market for products and services for the sleep-deprived. It predicts automatic "shut-eye pods", like public toilets which you can sleep in without getting arrested. The report's authors also believe napping at work will become more common and that employers will start to take their workers' sleep more seriously. It suggest people most at risk of losing sleep should be offered "catch-up days" to pay off their sleep deficit. ®

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