Government Proposes ‘Right to Switch Off’
The government is proposing to consult on the “right to switch off” for employees. This would give employees the right to digitally disconnect from...
Read Full ArticleBoris Johnson has confirmed that the official guidance on working during the pandemic will change from August.
At today’s press conference the Prime Minister said that employers will be given more discretion on how they organise their workforce:
“Instead of government telling people to work from home, we are going to give employers more discretion and ask them to make decisions about how their staff can work safely.
“That could mean of course continuing to work from home, which is one way of working safely and which has worked for many employers and employees.
“Or it could mean making workplaces safe by following COVID Secure guidelines. Whatever employers decide, they should consult closely with their employees, and only ask people to return to their place of work if it is safe.
“As we reopen our society and economy, it’s right that we give employers more discretion while continuing to ensure employees are kept safe.”
“It is my strong and sincere hope that we will be able to review the outstanding restrictions and allow a more significant return to normality from November at the earliest – possibly in time for Christmas.”
–Boris Johnson
Prime Minister of the United Kingdom
Chris Moriarty, Director of Insight at the Institute of Workplace and Facilities Management (IWFM) commented that their research suggests not all will be keen to return to their pre-lockdown working routines – with the number of employees not wanting to return to the office nearly doubling since the start of April.
He said: “As we slowly return to a ‘new normal’, businesses must ensure that office-based versus remote working is not seen as a binary choice. Employers must make efforts to provide staff with the right level of support to work effectively in whichever work setting they choose.
“Policies should offer the choice and flexibility to work remotely or return to the corporate space in a flexible manner to maintain employee engagement and retain talent. Our research shows that almost 75 per cent of workers want more flexible working options when they return to the corporate work environment.
“With 43 per cent of employees concerned about having to revert to a costly commute, it’s also important to recognise the financial pressure commuting places on many workers, particularly those in the London region. We urge the Government to work closely with rail partners and local authorities to provide further incentives to get people back onto public transport.”
Picture: A photograph of a person working at a desk
Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 17 July 2020
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