Companies have been advised to assess the body clocks of their workers and to offer them flexi hours for when they are at their most productive.

According to Jessica Alexander from The Sleep Council, some employees are sleep deprived because the working day does not suit their natural patterns.

Therefore, adjusting working hours to suit individual staff members could be beneficial for businesses, she added.

Ms Alexander went on to say that taking a nap in the middle of the day may help some employees to concentrate.

A generic body that helps to raise awareness of the importance of a good night’s sleep for workers’ health and wellbeing, The Sleep Council is funded by the National Bed Federation, the trade association for British bed manufacturers.

It recommends keeping regular hours of sleep, taking part in more exercise and creating a restful sleeping environment to get a good night’s sleep.