A Stat news report indicates that employees of insurance company Aetna receive money for each night they sleep more than 7 hours.

Lack of sleep can be harmful to your health, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. And for Aetna, it’s also a question of productivity. “You can get things done quicker if people are present and prepared,” said Mark Bertolini, Aetna chairman and chief executive officer, in an interview with CNBC. “You can’t be prepared if you’re half-asleep.”

The solution: For every 20 nights employees get 7 hours or more of sleep, they earn $25. That comes out to $1.25 a night. The reward is capped at $300 a year.

“Aetna is clearly communicating that sleep is something they value,” said Christopher Barnes, an associate professor in the Foster School of Business at the University of Washington.

If employees wear devices like a Fitbit, the sleeping time can be collected automatically. Employees can also enter it into the company system manually.

Get the full story at www.statnews.com