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- High workloads disrupting sleep (58%) and the lack of workplace focus on sleep health (49%) also attribute as key drivers of sleep disruption.
- Around 70% of respondents admit to taking “snooze days” away from work - sick leave due to poor sleep.
- Simple steps such as maintaining a consistent sleep schedule, creating a restful sleep environment, and managing stress can help individuals achieve better quality sleep and support overall productivity and health.
Sleep plays a critical role in sustaining workplace productivity, supporting both mental focus and a strong immune system to help employees stay healthy and perform at their best. Yet across the globe, long hours, demanding schedules and constant connectivity leave many employees fatigued and struggling to fall asleep at night.
In ResMed's 2026 Global Sleep Survey, 22% of respondents cited work as one of the five barriers to good sleep.
Work demands are a major contributor to sleep disruption, affecting both focus and overall wellbeing. The report noted:
- Lack of sleep directly affects one's ability to focus and perform at work (67%),
- High workloads negatively affect their sleep (58%), and
- Sleep health is not prioritised in the workplace (49%).
"Snooze days"— sick days taken due to poor sleep — are common too, with 70% of respondents admitting they’ve called in tired from a bad night’s rest.
India takes the top spot, with 50% stating that they take a "snooze day" four times or more a year. This is followed by the US (32%), China (30%), Australia, and Germany (24%).
Within Asia, the majority of employees have taken a "snooze day" at least once in a year, including:
- India (92%)
- China (80%)
- Australia (72%)
- Singapore (72%)
- Korea (51%)
- Japan (39%)
Many in these countries also feel that sleep health is not prioritised at work:
- India (57%)
- China (54%)
- Singapore (45%)
- Australia (42%)
- Korea (35%)
- Japan (25%)
Flexible work arrangements appear to help, with 59% of respondents saying the option allows them to better manage their sleep.
The report also highlighted the broader impact of sleep on mental health, the disproportionate sleep challenges faced by women, and other emerging trends.
Sleep’s impact on mental health
Stress and anxiety remain the top sleep disruptors across the globe (39%), which were found to result in irritability (36%) and heightened stress (33%).
Some common stressors interfering in employees' sleep within a week include:
- Family responsibilities (36%)
- Personal finances (35%)
- Work (34%)
- Personal health (34%)
- Current geopolitical environment (24%)
Just as sleep loss takes a toll, restorative sleep — waking up feeling truly rested — makes a measurable difference. Here is what the report revealed when people get a good night’s rest:
Some positive mental health benefits include:
- Having more energy to do the things they love (40%)
- Experiencing reduced irritability (38%)
- Are more motivated at work (33%)
- Are more likely to exercise (28%)
- Have more energy to spend time with the people they love (28%)
Women face disproportionate sleep challenges
Across genders, the sleep struggle is widespread and continues to grow, as nearly half of women (48%) report difficulty to fall asleep, up from 38% in the previous year.
Men face a similar trend, with difficulty to fall asleep rising significantly from 29% to 42%.
These increases point to a shared challenge: quality sleep is becoming harder to attain for everyone. However, the data also revealed that women continue to face greater barriers:
Further, 56% of women say they only get a good night's sleep four days or less per week compared to 50% of men:
“People are increasingly recognising sleep as a cornerstone to long-term health, which is encouraging,” said Dr. Carlos Nunez, Chief Medical Officer, Resmed.
“But recognition alone is not enough. We need to help people move from awareness to action by addressing everyday barriers and improving access to screening, support and care.”
For those looking to maintain quality rest for better productivity at work, Dr. Nunez shared a clear roadmap for healthy sleep habits:
- Maintain a consistent sleep schedule by going to bed and waking up at the same time each day. This helps to stabilise your circadian rhythm.
- Create a sleep-friendly environment that is cool, dark and quiet to enhance sleep quality. This also means removing any distractions like electronic devices within arms' reach.
- Be wary of quick fixes of trendy sleep products and focus on evidence-based habits like stress management, limiting coffee and alcohol, and seeking medical care for ongoing issues.
- Keeping a sleep journal or using a sleep tracking device can help monitor sleep patterns, identify any disruptions, and provide the necessary information for discussions with your healthcare provider.
- Start a sleep dialogue with your doctor, and should your doctor not bring it up, be proactive and share any patterns, difficulties, or questions to ensure it becomes a part of your overall health conversation.
READ MORE: Maximise your Z’s: 20 ways to stay productive on lesser sleep
Lead image & Infographics / Resmed 2026 Global Sleep Survey
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