Unplug and Recharge: Will the Right to Disconnect Improve Working Life for UK Employees?

For many employees, the chance to switch off from your job at the end of the day just isn’t an option. Emails, WhatsApp and Discord messages, texts, or phone calls can make it difficult to disconnect. Worse still, you may feel that you have to respond to be seen as a good worker.

But what if you had the right to refuse those messages and phone calls? Labour’s proposed Right to Disconnect could be the answer. This employment code would protect you from being expected to take part in work-related activities outside your official work hours. You could legally ignore those emails and texts until you begin your next working day.

Let’s look at what Labour have said about the Right to Disconnect.

Labour’s Proposed Right to Disconnect

Following on from the Employment Rights Bill, Labour have proposed the Right to Disconnect in their Next Steps document. This is subject to consultation with employees, businesses, trade unions, and other relevant bodies. If it goes ahead, this new move will give employees the right to disconnect from work outside their contracted hours.

The Right to Disconnect code of practice is a guide for both employers and employees. Its aim is to help set up clear boundaries for work-related communications outside official working hours.

Labour plans to follow the examples of countries like Ireland and Belgium, where similar laws exist. The Right to Disconnect code is part of Labour’s plan to protect employee mental health and well-being.

Benefits for Employees

So how will the Right to Disconnect help UK employees? Here are the three main benefits:

• Improved work-life balance: With clear boundaries, separating work from personal life will become easier.
• Better mental health and well-being: Uninterrupted time away from work will reduce stress and feelings of burnout, leading to improved mental health and overall well-being.
• Increased productivity: Having uninterrupted time outside working hours, employees will return to work more refreshed and focussed. This will boost employee engagement and productivity.

The Right to Disconnect has definite advantages for employees. However, employers are sure to benefit from a happier, healthier, and more engaged workforce too.

What are the Challenges of the Right to Disconnect?

The Right to Disconnect seems like a welcome move for employees. But implementing it won’t be without its challenges:

• Awareness and enforcement: It’s not clear how Labour will enforce the Right to Disconnect code on employers and what the consequences for non-compliance will be. It’s also unclear who will be responsible for making sure that employees are aware of their rights. Will it be the Government, businesses, or employees themselves?
• Flexible working preferences: There may be an initial clash between the Right to Disconnect code and flexible working practices.
• Business needs: Employers may have concerns about how to maintain productivity and meet the demands of their customers.

Ideally, these challenges will be addressed during Labour’s consultation with workers, businesses, and trade unions.

Real Life Examples

The Right to Disconnect has been successfully introduced in several countries already.

  France

In France, the Right to Disconnect was introduced in 2017, as part of a wider set of employment laws aimed at improving work-life balance. Research carried out by Eurofound showed that 92% of employees in companies with a Right to Disconnect policy reported an improved work-life balance and greater job satisfaction.

  Ireland

The Right to Disconnect code of practice in Ireland was introduced in 2021. The code provides guidance for both employers and employees. Results of the introduction of this code are included in the Eurofound research above.

  Belgium

The Right to Disconnect in Belgium was introduced in 2022, as part of the wider Labour Deal. It requires businesses with at least 20 employees to create a written policy regarding disconnection from work. The success of the Right to Disconnect in Belgium is included in the Eurofound research above. There was an increased work-life balance among employees and greater job satisfaction.

  Australia

In August 2024, Australia introduced the Right to Disconnect for businesses with more than 15 employees. It’s too soon to see the results of this new law in Australia. The success in France, Ireland, and Belgium, however, suggests there’ll be a similar effect on employee work-life balance, stress levels, and job satisfaction.

Wrapping it up

Labour’s proposed Right to Disconnect code aims to help employees enjoy their personal time without work interruptions. While the introduction of this practice is still subject to consultation, the potential benefits for both employees and employers are clear to see.