As an HR pro, you may stay awake at night worrying about the latest potential pandemic or the newest reports of allergies to your office décor. But CBSNewYork has reported on a new malady that also manifests itself in the wee hours.
Yes, according to the report, employees have ditched their teddy bears and are now taking their smartphones to bed! But when they take a trip to the bathroom or sit up to drink some water in the middle of the night, they are checking their texts and e-mails and typing answers while half asleep.
Unfortunately, many employees report they can’t remember sending the texts—and the messages are often unintelligible—or worse, sent to the wrong person! And the sleep texting occurs night after night.
Sleep specialist Dr. Josh Werber told CBSNewYork that not only is “serial sleep texting” embarrassing, but it could cause health problems. Workers wake up exhausted and never attain the “deep sleep or the rapid eye movement that is really critical to higher brain function,” Dr. Werber told the station. And you certainly want your employees to exhibit higher brain function at work.
Dr. Werber states that people should shut off their smartphones 1 hour before they hit the sack. So suggest to employees that they do not BYODTB—bring your own device to bed!
And, of course, this could raise wage and hour issues for nonexempt workers.