More than 90 per cent of Australians are not getting enough sleep, according to the largest ever national sleep census.

A recent survey conducted by Queensland's CQUniversity found that just four per cent of the 13,089 respondents woke up feeling refreshed on a daily basis.

While sleep disturbances affected almost one in four Australians, there was a significant difference in the amount of sleep required to function effectively at work - management executives in particular felt they needed less shut-eye than other office workers, students or stay-at-home parents.

Stress in the office is costing Australian businesses more than $30 billion a year, contributing to more than half of the country's total workplace injury bill.

According to a new report released by Safe Work Australia, the annual cost of work-related injury and diseases has risen to $60.6 billion.

Alarmingly, the independent agency found that the combination of "body stressing" and "mental stress" cases equated to half of the cost of job-related injury and illness.

Sleep disorders are costing the Australian economy more than $5.1 billion a year in health care and indirect costs, a new study has found.

According to a new economic report commissioned by the Sleep Health Foundation, disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia and restless leg syndrome are having a significant impact on the Australian workplace.

While it is predicted that more than 171,000 employees will falsely call in sick to work today, it may be the sign of a much larger problem.

Direct Health Solutions absenteeism expert Paul Dundon told the Herald Sun today (January 27) that the rate of those taking a "sickie" was expected to rise from 3.5 per cent to 5 per cent.

"It's a massive impact on businesses," he told the News Limited source.

However the desire to maximise on a four-day weekend may also come as a result of depression in the workplace.

The country's leading medical body has suggested that mining companies could be doing more to improve the health of the industry's fly-in-fly-out (FIFO) workers.

In a submission to a federal inquiry into FIFO employment, the Australian Medical Association (AMA) has asked the government to address the health of the workforce.

A new study has warned of the potential health risks working night shift poses to employees.

According to an editorial appearing in PLoS Medicine - an open-access medicine journal - poor diet and easy access to junk food is becoming an increasing part of the routine of those working during less-conventional hours.

Of particular concern is the increased risk of type-2 diabetes in females, highlighted by the study's ongoing evaluation of nurses in the US.

While the end of the year is often a time to celebrate, some stressed Chinese workers have marked the occasion in a unique way.

Hundreds of young office workers and students participated in a number of pillow fights on Tuesday (December 27) in order relieve tension.

According to founder and event organiser Eleven Wang, releasing the stress allows participants to "once again face our daily life with joy".

An anticipated "surge" in obesity-related cancers is largely preventable if intervention measures are taken now, says the chair of Cancer Council Australia's Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee.

Kathy Chapman made the remarks following the publication of a new government report from a government media watchdog that indicated more should be done to protect children from junk food advertisements than the current system of self-regulation.

Employers are suffering as a new survey finds that almost two-thirds of workers admit to taking a false sick day at some point in their lives.

Research by the workplace consultancy firm SHL found that "burn-out from long work hours and work pressures" was the reason behind 33 per cent of fictitious sick leave, followed by family problems with 27 per cent.

The desire to do "other things" and boredom also made the list of reasons, recording 12 per cent and 9 per cent respectively.

Almost one-third of employees have identified the workplace as a source of stress, according to a new survey.

A recent study by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) found that while 30 per cent of workers considered themselves stressed.

In addition, one in three respondents reported experiencing depressive symptoms, while one in four stating that they have experienced anxiety.