Do you think bosses should be restricted from contacting employees outside of working hours?

LinkedIn News recently reported the following:

The Labour Party in the UK will look to introduce a "right to switch off" policy if it wins power in the next general election, according to reports. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner told the Financial Times that "constant emails and calls outside of work should not be the norm and is harming work-life balance for many".

 Rayner said that Labour would "look at how to implement this in practice, learning from countries where it has been introduced successfully".

 France has had similar legislation in place since 2017, which gives employees the right to disconnect from devices outside of working hours. The likes of Spain and Portugal have also introduced such policies.

 A poll of 1,050 UK adults, published in 2022 by market research firm Ipsos UK, found that 60% were in favour of introducing a law that would give workers the right to ignore work-related communications outside of working hours.

 Should the UK adopt a "right to switch off" policy? 

As an international executive search firm, Oakstone consultants connect with hundreds of people every day in many different time zones. Whilst we work flexibly according to the regions we're working in; our consultants aren't expected to reply to emails 24 hours a day. 

The question of whether employees should be restricted from contacting people outside of working hours depends on various factors such as the nature of the job, international time zone collaboration and the well-being of employees. 

More companies are becoming increasingly understanding of personal time and allowing people to switch off to create a more focused and productive workforce; however, being flexible and replying to urgent emails or calls may still be necessary – especially when working for international companies.

In our latest blog, we're exploring the pros and cons of the right to switch off. 

Pros

Work-life balance

Having the right to switch off allows people to have a healthy work-life balance and focus their own time on other responsibilities away from the office. Constantly being connected to work outside of working hours can lead to burnout and stress. Allowing people to disconnect and have personal time can contribute to their overall happiness and productivity, as well as increase their productivity and motivation when they're in the office. 

Respecting personal time by refraining from contacting employees outside of work hours also demonstrates a commitment to work-life balance, acknowledging that employees have the right to disconnect and engage in non-work activities. 

Cons

Essential Flexibility and autonomy 

Restricting all contact outside of working hours may limit the preference for working flexibly. Some individuals will prefer to work at unconventional hours due to personal commitments outside of work. Allowing employees to work outside of conventional working hours can increase their productivity and engagement. 

Job Requirements 

Depending on the nature of the job and the requirements, switching off outside of conventional work hours may be detrimental to your business and people's job. Sales and events jobs are just two job sectors which may require flexible working or working at weekends on occasion. 

Urgent or time-sensitive issues may also require employees to work outside of work hours.

Clear guidelines and boundaries should be established to prevent misuse or excessive demands on employees' personal time. Whilst the right to switch off may work for some, it doesn't suit everyone. 

Giving employees the option to switch off when leaving the office should be mandatory; however, having an agreement and understanding that urgent and flexible working may sometimes be needed is also essential. Rather than implementing legislation, should employers and employees be using more common sense and understanding of one another's requirements?