Fatigue in the workplace: what you should know

It may follow poor sleep, long or irregular shifts, sustained stress, dehydration, illness, medication effects, or demands that leave too little time for recovery. Fatigue can affect office work as well as driving, clinical duties, construction, machinery use, and other safety-sensitive tasks.

Notice whether the tiredness improves after adequate rest or continues despite sleep. Difficulty finding words, slower reactions, headaches, irritability, forgetfulness, and repeatedly rereading instructions can all signal that fatigue is affecting work performance.

Work-related exhaustion can be part of burnout, especially when it occurs with detachment, reduced sense of achievement, or ongoing pressure. Persistent fatigue can also occur with conditions such as anaemia, coeliac disease, chronic kidney disease, chronic fatigue syndrome, COVID-19, dehydration, or alcohol use disorder. These possibilities cannot be distinguished from the symptom alone.

Protect a regular sleep routine, drink fluids regularly, eat balanced meals, and take short movement breaks rather than working through worsening drowsiness. Keep a brief record of sleep, shift pattern, symptoms, medicines, alcohol, and caffeine; this can reveal patterns for you and your clinician.

Tell a supervisor or workplace health professional if fatigue makes a task unsafe. Ask about temporary changes such as additional breaks, different duties, adjusted shift timing, or avoiding driving and machinery while drowsy. Do not try to overcome severe sleepiness with stimulants when alertness is essential.

Arrange a medical assessment if fatigue persists, keeps returning, is worsening, or interferes with work, sleep, mood, or everyday activities. Seek advice sooner if it comes with unexplained weight change, breathlessness, paleness, fever, swollen glands, marked thirst, changes in urination, or low mood.

Get urgent help for sudden confusion, fainting, severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, new weakness on one side, or thoughts of harming yourself. Avoid driving or operating equipment if you are struggling to stay awake.

Ask: Could my shift pattern, sleep, medicines, mood, or another health problem be contributing? What examination or tests might help identify the cause? What workplace restrictions are sensible while this is being assessed?