Workers in France, Belgium and Ireland already have it. So could the ‘right to switch off’ be on its way to British shores?
What’s it all about?
The modern world of work can be stressful. Many of us are easily contactable via personal or work mobile phones. Whether as a result of phone calls, text messages, email or otherwise, for some, it can be difficult to make a clean break from the office during evenings, weekends and holidays. So some countries have introduced laws which guarantee workers the right to switch off the work mobile, close down the emails and ignore any attempts by their bosses to contact them. Could similar laws be introduced here in the UK?
What does the government have in mind?
Angela Rayner, the Deputy Prime Minister, has previously spoken with approval about the idea of introducing the ‘right to switch off’ here in the UK. But quite how they would implement such a right remains unclear.
What seems most likely is some sort of Code of Practice, along the lines of that introduced in Ireland. This may not be backed by the full force of the law, but would be less complicated to introduce. In Belgium, the right is backed by legislation, but only applies to companies with 20 or more employees. Could we see similar arrangements here in the UK? Only time will tell.
Good idea or bad idea?
What do you think about the idea of creating new rules or legislation in this area? Are you for or against? For some interesting and diverse perspectives, why not read a recent article that appeared in The Guardian newspaper, which you can access by the link here.
If you want to share your own thoughts and experiences with us, please get in touch.
James qualified as a solicitor in 2001, having completed his academic studies at the University of Sheffield. Throughout his career, he has worked for a number of prestigious regional law firms, joining stevensdrake as Head of Employment Law in 2012.
As well as pursuing and defending the full range of Employment Tribunal claims, James spends a considerable amount of his time providing advice and support to businesses of various sizes. He advises on a wide variety of HR and employment law issues, including employment contracts, HR processes and procedures, grievances, disciplinary issues, absenteeism, performance management and settlement agreements. He also regularly helps clients with redundancy exercises and internal reorganisations.
James has previously been described as an ‘Associate to Watch’ by Chambers UK, an independent guide to the legal profession. His clients regard him as “thorough”, “easy to work with” and someone who avoids blinding them with legal jargon.
Outside of work, James balances family life with ambitions of swimming, running and cycling a bit faster.
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