How the 'right to switch off' can benefit mental health

Kate Ng
·Trending Lifestyle Reporter
Wed, October 9, 2024 

People should be able to come home from work and unwind properly. (Getty Images)


Wave goodbye to the feeling of dread that comes when you see your boss or co-worker’s name flash up on your phone screen outside your working hours, as the UK government is set to introduce the "right to switch off" as part of the new Employment Rights Bill.

The bill will be announced on Thursday 10 October and is expected to offer a number of entitlements for workers in the UK, including more rights around sick pay, maternity leave and zero-hours contracts.

In a statement earlier this year, Downing Street said it wants to make sure people’s homes do not become "24/7 offices" and ensure workers "have some time to rest" when they are not within their contracted working hours.


The prime minister’s deputy spokesperson said: "Good employers understand that for workers to stay motivated and productive, they do need to be able to switch off, and a culture of presenteeism can be damaging to productivity."

‘Presenteeism’ is defined as the act or culture of continuing to work for more hours than is required even though this might actually reduce productivity or have negative effects on an employee’s personal life.

The new plans come after research published earlier this year revealed that more than half (51%) of UK employees regularly exceed their contracted hours, with 17% clocking at least two hours of overtime every day.

UK employees often display 'presenteeism', which sees them working through sick days and even when their mental health is poor. (Getty Images)

The survey, carried out by Canada Life, also found the employees feel under increasing pressure to keep their jobs, particularly amid the cost of living crisis. 16% said they check emails and online chats more regularly outside working hours, while 12% take fewer breaks and 11% start their work day earlier.

However, recent research also suggests that British workers are at high risk of burnout, with one in four at the brink. The study, published by the charity MQ Mental Health, Peopleful and the Workwell Institute at Northwest University, found that a further 22% of workers showed signs of stress-related ill health.

The charity welcomed the government’s plans, adding that it can "help to counteract the growing issue of burnout among UK workers" - but only if it is "implemented well".

"Last year, one in five employees in the UK took time off due to stress and mental ill health," MQ tells Yahoo UK. "But despite this, nearly half of all workers report that their employer doesn’t have a plan to spot signs of burnout or stress-related ill health.

"Employers have a duty of care to create mentally healthy workplaces and allowing staff to ‘switch off’ fully when they are not at work or on call is an important part of that."

Why is it important to ‘switch off’ from work?

Before the advent of smartphones, most people used to be able to go home after work and unwind without too much worry that their boss or colleagues might get in touch. However, communication has become a lot faster and more convenient - and while this is great for keeping in touch with loved ones, it also means the line between work and home has become more blurred.

The increase in working from home, largely due to the Covid pandemic, has further confused things. More than half of British workers worked longer hours when working from home compared to before the pandemic, a 2021 poll found.

A quarter reported that they were working more than 10 extra hours a week, while 41% said they worked between five and 10 extra hours a week.

Psychotherapist and author Eloise Skinner tells Yahoo UK that, according to research, being able to switch off from work and disconnect from our professional lives after the working day is important for overall stress levels and wellbeing.

"In particular, studies have demonstrated that leaders who disconnected from work were able to return feeling recharged, with more energy and engagement," she says. "Switching off can also help us reduce feelings of overwhelm, enable us to gather a greater sense of perspective, and allow us to manage the time we have at work more efficiently.

The new policy suggested by the government would give employees the right not to be contacted by their employers outside of working hours. (Getty Images)

"On a more personal level, switching off from work can help us protect our sense of personal identity, allowing us to appreciate all the aspects of ourselves, our lives and our interests - without associating everything with our working lives."

The government's plans could improve people's wellbeing, but this depends on how it is implemented and observed by companies and businesses.

Skinner adds: "It might also be the case that different approaches work for different people - some people might feel they genuinely feel more immersed, focused and fulfilled if they're able to work for longer durations at work, and then take longer breaks (instead of disconnecting every evening) - so I think it will be important to allow for some level of flexibility to protect personal preferences and patterns."

Dr Sandi Mann, senior lecturer in Occupational Psychology at University of Central Lancashire, also tells Yahoo UK: "The importance of work-life balance on employee mental health has become a hot topic in recent years. The workplace can have many potential stressors. Work overload, unrealistic deadlines, and bureaucracy are just some of them. Ensuring employee wellbeing through being able to step away from it all is paramount for a healthy and effective workforce.

"If we don’t ever switch off and leave our work at the desk, we can find ourselves in a constant state of worry and stress. It can be especially difficult to set and stick to boundaries when more people have the option to work from home, meaning the office exists only a few feet away.

"When we’re in the habit of fixating on our to-do list, it can put a lot of pressure on us mentally. This significantly increases our chance of burnout and poor mental health.

"Employers should encourage workers to make healthy choices when it comes to their work-life balance. The introduction of a ‘right to switch off’ will make it easier for both employers and employees to respect boundaries. And by encouraging these healthy limits, organisations can promote and nurture healthy environments in which everyone can perform to the best of their ability."