The Leading News & Information Service For The Facilities, Workplace & Built Environment Community

Government Proposes ‘Right to Switch Off’

Government Proposes ‘Right to Switch Off’
22 August 2024
 

The government is proposing to consult on the “right to switch off” for employees.

This would give employees the right to digitally disconnect from work without facing negative repercussions.

According to Labour’s “Plan to Make Work Pay” document, new ways of working as a consequence of the pandemic have encouraged presenteeism and “blurred the lines between work and home life”. This appears to be the case in the UK, with an Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) paper showing that UK workers are among the least likely to take sick days, but most likely to work through illness. 

The government wants to help businesses foster a culture of healthier working practices, balancing the need to switch off with an employer’s right to contact an employee in certain circumstances, and honouring the preference for working outside conventional work patterns. This complements the Employment Relations (Flexible Working) Act, which passed into law in July 2023, giving employees the right to request flexible working from day one of a new job.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) says the government’s proposed “right to switch off” should be developed in consultation with employers and allow for some flexibility around when organisations can contact staff in unforeseen circumstances

Ben Willmott, Head of Public Policy at the CIPD said: “It’s important that any new 'right to switch off’ is introduced with sufficient flexibility to enable employers to contact employees outside normal working hours where unforeseen circumstances require this, for example due to sickness absence.

“It seems most likely the government will introduce this new right through a code of practice, which should allow employers to develop approaches which work for both them and their staff. There will be different demands for this type of flexibility depending on the sector and the nature of people's jobs, which would need to be recognised in the code of practice. 

“Developed in the right way, in consultation with employers, such a code can help promote what is already adopted as good practice in many organisations and support workers' work-life balance and wellbeing.

“Employers will need to ensure they have clear policies which are aligned to any new code, clarifying the circumstances where managers can and cannot contact staff outside their usual working hours.”

Picture: a photograph of a person sitting at a desk, leaning forward with their head resting on their arms, as if in exasperation. Image Credit: Unsplash

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 22 August 2024

Share



Related Articles

The Right to Disconnect at Work – Is it A Legal Matter?

A European Parliament majority has voted for a law that grants workers the right to digitally disconnect from work without facing negative repercussions. MEPs are...

 Read Full Article
Wellbeing and Mental Health Drops Down Business Agenda

Despite wellbeing remaining an ongoing concern for workers, CIPD research suggests that mental health is beginning to slip down the business agenda amongst...

 Read Full Article
It’s Now Illegal in Portugal for Your Boss To Text You After Work

We all have the right to disconnect from work – but the Portuguese government has gone a step further in ensuring this. Portugal's Socialist Party has...

 Read Full Article
Home Working Highlights Culture of Presenteeism, says CIPD

77 per cent of employers have observed presenteeism in employees who are working from home in the last year, according to research by The Chartered...

 Read Full Article
Staff Miss Out on £4,785 a Year From Extra Hours Worked From Home

New data has revealed that UK employees could be missing out on £4,785.30 a year due to working extra hours at home. According to a survey carried out by...

 Read Full Article
Lone Working, Mental Health and Guidance For Employers

SOCOTEC, a UK provider of testing, inspection and compliance services is providing advice for employers on the recently updated HSE guidance document on lone...

 Read Full Article
Protecting Your Employees’ Mental Health

April is Stress Awareness Month, and people working across every industry are experiencing a significant increase in pressure. Flexible working campaigner Anna...

 Read Full Article
British Safety Council Offers Free Mental Health Courses

To help protect the workforce from the risks associated with Coronavirus, The British Safety Council (BSC) is offering several courses for free until 12 April. As...

 Read Full Article
The Chartered Institute of Building Launches 3rd Phase of Mental Health Research

A landmark survey into the mental health issues facing those working in construction and the built environment has launched. The Chartered Institute of...

 Read Full Article
Mental Health Workshop Series Available for Security Sector Professionals

A charity that works with armed forces' veterans is now offering a series of trauma awareness training for security employers. In conjunction with Assist Security...

 Read Full Article