UK

Labour paves the way for huge payouts to workers contacted out of hours by their bosses in 'right to switch off' plan

By Emily Cooper
THE DAILY MIRROR
18 August 2024 

Workers who are relentlessly contacted by their bosses outside of work hours could be entitled to compensation - as Labour pushes the 'right to switch off'.

Plans under consideration by the new Labour government could help employees draw a line in the sand between their work and home life - as seen in the party's 'right to switch off' campaign pledge.

The government are looking to push out a code of practice which sets out normal working hours and clarifies when an employee can expect to be contacted by their employer.

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The policy, believed to be spearheaded by new deputy prime minister Angela Raynor, includes the right for worker's to refuse to take on extra work on weekends or to carry out work-related tasks while on annual leave.

Pushy bosses who repeatedly breach this agreement could be taken to an employment tribunal and drained of thousands of pounds as compensation.

The Labour government is looking to introduce the 'right to switch off' in a plan believed to be spearheaded by Deputy Prime Minister Angela Raynor (pictured)

The government are looking to push out a code of practice which sets out normal working hours and clarifies when an employee can expect to be contacted by their employer (Stock Image)


Although the out-of-hours contact would not warrant litigation on its own, employees could point to it as part of a wider claim against their employer.

Such practice could increase the likelihood of a worker successfully winning their claim, according to The Times.

As it stands companies who are proven to have ignored codes of practice set out by Acas are required to pay compensation - which can be increased by 25 per cent depending on aggravating factors.

Acas is an indpendant public body that provides free and impartial information to both employers and employees on workplace relations and employment law.