Londoners are losing sleep from working an extra 36 days overtime every year, worrying new research shows

Over half of London workers aren’t happy with the amount of sleep they’re getting, research has revealed.

A new study from UK bed retailer Dreams showed Londoners are losing valuable sleep hours from working overtime in "secret night shifts".

A survey by Atomik Research of 2000 UK adults working across various industries showed Londoners are more inclined to work overtime . Without realising, Londoners are working an extra 36 days a year outside their contracted hours – almost two weeks more than the national average of 24 days.

Dreams’ sleep expert Dr Pixie McKenna said: “Twenty four days is the average office worker’s entire annual leave quota, so it’s shocking to see many people are spending the equivalent amount of days working in the evenings. This is having a huge impact on sleep, with workers struggling to wind-down before drifting off.”

Checking emails in bed is partly to blame with 47 per cent of workers admitting to doing so. 23 per cent said checking their emails is the last thing they do before going to sleep, and 54 per cent admitted it’s the first thing they do when they wake up.

A further six per cent admitted to waking up in the middle of the night to check their emails.

This leaves workers feeling pressured to keep on top of tasks by forfeiting their sleep. Twenty five per cent of UK workers reported sacrificing their usual bedtime to complete their work after hours. Fifty per cent of respondents said they hide these additional hours from their colleagues because they want to appear on top of things.

The trend has had a significant impact on employee productivity. A report from research firm RAND Europe titled ‘Why Sleep Matters’ revealed sleep deprivation in UK workforces costs the economy £40.2 billion in loss of productivity , and estimates this will steadily rise in cost to £47 billion by 2030, if current trends continue.

Dr McKenna recommended increasing sleeping hours will actually benefit productivity at work. “Choosing to go to bed half an hour earlier rather than working late into the night can actually make you far more productive the next day,” she said.

Ensuring your bedroom doesn’t become a makeshift office is key, as Dr McKenna advised: “Use another room to go through emails, or documents to ensure your bed is only associated with rest.

“It’s also a good idea to write down your to-do list on a notepad before you head to your bedroom as it will prevent you making a mental list in your brain while in bed.”