Sleep Deprivation And Business
In this age of increased technology and globalization enormous stress is being placed upon the business traveler. In order to stay competitive, business executives must commit to brutal schedules and frequent travels. Increasingly, business travelers are relying upon air travel as their primary form of transportation. This constant movement through different time zones is exhausting and can lead to jet lag. “Technically called circadian dysrythmia, jet lag is a disruption of the body’s intricate biological inner-sleep cycle caused by crossing multiple time zones quickly.” The mental and physical ramifications of jet lag can be detrimental and potentially dangerous to the individual’s health. According to the National Transportation Safety Board, “Fatigue is the No.1 factor that detrimentally impacts the ability of pilots.” Footy “ According to a PBS television documentary “Sleep Alert,” a Boeing 747 captain noted:” It is not unusual for me to fall asleep in the cockpit, wake up twenty minutes later and find the other two crew members totally asleep.”footy In another report, “A Boeing 757 captain told how his forehead hit the control column on his approach to New York’s Kennedy Airport as the need for sleep became overwhelming.”footy Of course, the consequences of sleep deprivation in most cases will not be as severe as the in previous examples, but it does illustrate the importance sleep plays in job performance.
The lodging facility of the traveler is in the best position to reduce and alleviate the negative affects of jet lag. In order to provide the best possible service to the guest, hotels will be forced to recognize this problem and create solutions for it. As it stands right now, the best solution to this problem is education.
Recognizing the symptoms of jet lag is the first step in the education process. In his book, Power Sleep, Dr. James Maas of Cornell...
Please login to view the full essay...