New Right To 'Switch Off' For Workers In The UK

A worker's right to ‘switch off' outside their normal working hours could soon be introduced in the UK.

This is part of the government's Plan to Make Work Pay.

The plan provides workers with a right to disconnect from work outside of working hours and not to be contacted by their employer. There would be no expectation on workers to answer calls or emails outside working hours or work extra hours at weekends.

The government believes that the plan will help boost productivity for businesses by allowing people time to rest.

Employers repeatedly in breach of the ‘switch off' rule could face uplifted compensation claims from workers who have been contacted outside of working hours.  It is understood that any new right is likely to be enforced through a code of practice, similar to the position in Ireland and Belgium.