Just small scheduling adjustments can go a long way toward boosting the sleep that a workforce gets each week. (Photo: Shutterstock)

In recent years, employers have begun to allow workers greater scheduling flexibility. Generally, the idea behind flexible schedules has been to help employees meet their family commitments, notably child care, as well as to reduce the amount of time they spend commuting during rush hour.

New research offers another powerful argument in favor of flexible schedules: allowing employees to get more sleep.

Sleep deprivation, research shows, is not just a problem for people who aren't giving themselves enough time in bed. Many people have a hard time getting quality shut-eye at certain times of the day. Their internal clock may be set to sleep between midnight and 8 o'clock in the morning, for instance, making it hard for them to get a good night's sleep if they have to be at work at 8.