There remains a contrived, yet fortified, arrogance in many business cultures focused on the uselessness of sleep. It is bizarre, considering how sensible the professional world is regarding all other areas of employee health, safety, and conduct. As my Harvard colleague, Dr. Czeisler has pointed out, innumerable policies exist within the workplace regarding smoking, substance abuse, ethical behavior, and injury and disease prevention. But insufficient sleep—another harmful, potentially deadly factor—is commonly tolerated and even woefully encouraged.
