This is the perfect excuse to be late for work tomorrow

Do you wish your job would start later? Science has your back.

According to a study in the journal Sleep making work start at times which are more flexible could actually help workers by ensuring they are not suffering from sleep loss.

Researchers analysed 124,517 responses to the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) between 2003-2011, and found people were sacrificing sleep to be at work at earlier times. Those who slept the most were self-employed with flexible work times. People who started work between 9am-10am got on average 7.29 hours of sleep, compared to six hours for those who started work before 6am.

Lead author Dr. Mathias Basner, of the Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia, explains: "The evidence that time spent working was the most prominent sleep thief was overwhelming."

As for why that matters? American Academy of Sleep Medicine President Dr Timothy Morgenthaler, who was not involved in the study, said: "Getting at least seven hours of nightly sleep is essential to be at your mental, emotional and physical best for whatever you will pour yourself into, either at work or at home."

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