Using wearable technology (closed loop acoustic stimulation) to improve sleep quality and work outcomes.

Abstract

Drawing from the neuroscience literature and recent advancements in sleep technology, we examine how closed loop acoustic stimulation can improve employee sleep and subsequent work behaviors. Specifically, we hypothesize that because closed loop acoustic stimulation improves sleep quality, it enhances work engagement, task performance, and organizational citizenship behavior (OCB) and lowers counterproductive workplace behavior. In a 4-week within-subjects field experiment, 81 employees wore headbands during sleep hours in active mode (with closed loop acoustic stimulation) or sham mode with the volume off (control condition). We found that the treatment condition was linked to higher work engagement, task performance, and OCB the next day (but not counterproductive workplace behavior). Additionally, we found that the headbands were more effective for younger employees. This study contributes to the literature on sleep and work by highlighting a cost-efficient intervention for improving sleep and sleep-related outcomes which do not rely on surmounting the difficulties entailed in increasing sleep duration, as well as age as a boundary condition limiting the effects.