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The boss may think a worker’s satisfaction depends on the eight hours spent at work but new research finds eight hours away from it may have an equal part to play.

HR think tank Reventure finds workers who do not get enough sleep are likely to not be effective at work, and also dissatisfied within their job.

Its Workplace Wellbeing survey finds more than half of workers who report they do not get enough quality sleep (54 per cent) also are likely to look for a job in the next 12 months.

It compares to the average of 49 per cent of all workers who are looking for a job this year. Lead researcher Dr Lindsay McMillan says those not getting enough quality sleep also are more likely to say they feel as though their life has no sense of meaning.

“Sleep is a key part in fostering wellbeing – more than half of the Australian workers we surveyed believed that having time for rest and relaxation contributes to high levels of personal wellbeing,” he says. “Thirty-seven per cent of dissatisfied sleepers said they were either extremely or very stressed about work and that is something business leaders should not ignore.

“The effect work stress has on sleep can form a vicious cycle and while some large workplaces have implemented innovations such as sleep pods, there are some more basic measures leaders can take.

 “Make sure workloads are manageable and that expectations are reasonable, minimise emails after hours and take a look at overtime hours – these may be eating into your workers’ rest.”

The survey finds satisfied sleepers are happier in all areas of their lives.