Work demands are eating into employees’ sleep in Singapore, with 71% of office workers saying they have sacrificed sleep to keep up with work, according to the How Singapore Sleeps 2026 survey commissioned by The Air Station and Easmed.
The survey of 1,000 Singapore office workers aged 30 to 60 found that 38% cut their sleep short at least once a week because of work.
The pressure also appears to extend beyond working hours, with one in four respondents checking work emails or messages in bed at least three to four times a week. Another 12% do so almost every day.
Workers are not getting enough sleep
The findings point to a wider gap between the amount of sleep workers need and what they actually get.
Respondents said they need an average of 7.4 hours of sleep to feel rested, but get only 6.3 hours on a typical work night. While 81% said they need at least seven hours, only 20% reported getting that amount on a typical work night.
The report also found that poor sleep is already affecting how employees perform at work. 97% of workers reported a drop in productivity after a poor night’s sleep, while 58% said their productivity fell by more than 20%.
Focus and mood take a hit
The impact extends beyond productivity. More than half of the workforce reported experiencing difficulties with concentration and focus, as well as changes in mood, on a weekly basis.
This suggests that sleep is not simply an individual wellbeing issue, but can also affect employees’ ability to concentrate, manage their mood and maintain productivity during the working day.
Sleep health remains poorly understood
The survey also points to limited awareness of sleep-related health risks. One in four workers were found to be at meaningful risk of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), while 60% could not describe what OSA is.
More than half of respondents, or 56%, had never had their sleep checked.
Among those who had not sought screening, the most common barriers were the cost of diagnosis or treatment, cited by 51%, followed by not knowing where to go, at 36%.
The report also found persistent misconceptions around sleep. Nearly one in four respondents agreed that loud, regular snoring is a sign of deep, healthy sleep, while half considered daytime sleepiness a normal part of a busy working life.
What employees want
Workers also identified the types of support they would value from employers. 72% said they want flexible working hours, while 37% wanted subsidised sleep screening and 21% wanted sleep education.
The findings put the spotlight on how working patterns can influence employees' ability to rest, and how sleep-related issues can carry into the working day through lower productivity, concentration and mood.