Sleep – or rather, the lack of it – is quietly costing South African businesses millions each year. According to Dr. Alison Bentley of the Restonic ARA Sleep Clinic, nearly half of the country’s workforce may be sleep-deprived, and the impact is more than just a mid-morning slump or craving for coffee.

Speaking on HOT Business with Jeremy Maggs, powered by Standard Bank, Bentley warns that both the quantity and quality of sleep are essential to performance, decision-making, and even safety. “If you wake up tired despite a full night’s sleep, that’s a red flag,” she says. Sleep disorders like apnea, restless legs syndrome, and insomnia are often misattributed to stress, lifestyle, or poor time management.

With up to 23% of workers between the ages of 39 and 69 potentially living with undiagnosed sleep apnea, the productivity cost is substantial. Australian studies estimate losses of around AUD 2,000 per employee per year, driven by absenteeism and ‘presenteeism’ – where staff are at work, but underperforming.

And it doesn’t end there. Poor sleep is a major contributor to obesity, diabetes, and heart disease – all of which are usually assessed during corporate wellness checks. Bentley suggests it’s time to add simple sleep screenings to those assessments, especially since only seven questions can help identify at-risk staff.

From early-morning shifts to high-pressure roles, sleep isn’t just a personal issue. It’s a business issue.

As Bentley puts it: “If you solve the sleep problem first, you may avoid a whole range of other health problems altogether.”

For HR professionals and business leaders, the message is clear: if your staff aren’t sleeping well, your business isn’t performing at its best.