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Sleep deprivation a silent productivity killer in Corporate India: Study
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, April 22, 2025: The glow of office lights that once symbolized productivity is now casting shadows on the health of India’s corporate workforce.
Behind the polished presentations, endless emails, and late-night meetings lies an unseen crisis — one that begins where the workday ends: sleep deprivation.
A groundbreaking study published in the International Journal of Medical and Health Sciences has pulled the curtains back on what experts are now calling a "sleep epidemic" sweeping through India's high-stress sectors like IT, finance, and marketing.
Co-authored by renowned psychologist and workspace wellness expert Dr. Deepak Thakur and researcher Simmi Bansal, the study — "Sleepless Employees: The Sleep Crisis Among Indian Corporate Professionals and Its Cognitive Consequences" — reveals that over 60% of corporate employees are operating with dangerously low-quality sleep.
The effects? Alarming.
From blurred attention spans to memory lapses and sluggish decision-making, the brain fog is real.“When employees aren’t getting enough quality sleep, it affects their cognitive functions, such as memory recall and attention span,” Dr. Thakur explains. “This leads to slower decision-making, decreased productivity, and increased errors. It’s a silent productivity killer.”
The study didn’t just highlight the symptoms — it exposed the cycle. Long hours, mounting stress, poor sleep — repeat.
According to Bansal, “Professionals are trapped in a loop where stress disrupts sleep, and poor sleep amplifies stress, creating a downward spiral that chips away at their performance and mental well-being.”
Perhaps the most eye-opening part of the study is the call to action.
Dr. Thakur and Ms. Bansal recommend a corporate culture shift:
- Sleep hygiene education,
- Flexible work schedules, and
- Comprehensive wellness programs that go beyond gym memberships and into sleep science.
“Workplaces must acknowledge that sleep is a cornerstone of both mental and physical health,” Dr. Thakur insists. “A well-rested employee isn’t just healthier — they’re sharper, more resilient, and more productive.”
In the race to outperform and outlast, sleep has become collateral damage. But this study makes one thing clear — neglecting sleep is no longer an individual issue; it’s an organizational liability.
Bansal puts it simply, “Addressing sleep deprivation isn’t just a moral responsibility. It’s a smart business strategy.”The message is loud, clear, and perhaps overdue: The bed may just be the new boardroom.