Labour planning to give workers the 'right to switch off' if it wins the next general election

Labour plans to introduce a 'right to switch off' policy for all workers, and especially those who work remotely.

This new policy is aimed at preventing homes from becoming '24/7 offices' due to the prevalence of remote work, while giving workers improved well-being and a better work-life balance.

Published in the party's Green paper entitled 'A New Deal For Working People', the plans will give workers the legal right to disconnect from work outside of their designated working hours, protecting them from unwanted employer contact during off-duty periods.

Labour also intends to introduce protections against remote surveillance and excessive monitoring of those who work from home, ensuring that workers' rights adapt to and evolve alongside technological advancements.

As a minimum, employers wishing to use surveillance technologies to monitor staff working from home will need to have consultation and approval from trade unions or elected staff representatives in the absence of unions.

This type of policy isn't a new concept. In countries such as Belgium and France, there's already a recognition of the overlap between work and personal life when workers are mainly working remotely, with more rules about when employers can contact employees.

With a great rise in remote working as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, Labour aims to create more defined boundaries between work and personal life, so that workers have the right to unplug.

It's not clear whether there will be exceptions to this policy, as some roles may need more flexibility and require workers to be available outside of working hours, especially in leadership positions.

It also isn't clear whether employers who breach the policy will face legal consequences, although if it is enshrined in law, this can be assumed as likely.

The 'right to switch off' policy is popular, and if it becomes law, it would position the UK alongside other developed countries that have similar rights.

Labour intends to quickly reform many aspects of employment law if it wins the 2024 general election, and this is just one of the rights it plans to introduce within the first 100 days of gaining power.

Introduced and promoted by deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, the policy would mean that employers would be unable to contact workers outside of their working hours, ending an 'always on' working culture that leaves many employees working through emails over weekends and in the evenings.

Speaking to the Financial Times about the policy, Rayner said: “constant emails and calls outside of work should not be the norm and is harming work-life balance for many. We will look at how to implement this in practice, learning from countries where it has been introduced successfully.”

Should Labour win the next general election, employers will need to move quickly to ensure they are aware of any new employment laws that are quickly put in place by a Labour government.