Government plans to ban employers from contacting employees outside working hours – “with public support”

Most people support the government's plans to ban employers from contacting their employees outside of working hours, new research shows, with only 17 percent of the 2,000 adults surveyed opposed the move.

Survation's poll, commissioned by the Autonomy Institute think tank, found support was highest in the south-east. Autonomy called on the government to adopt laws from France and Portugal that impose fines on employers who ignore the rule.

In France, the highest court has punished employers for ignoring legislation. Will Stronge, research director at the Autonomy Institute, said: “If you give employers too much power to dictate the terms of the new 'Right to Switch Off' legislation, there is a risk that policy will fall by the wayside.” Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news

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“A broader right to disconnect would go a step further. As in France and Portugal, this legislation would not only give workers the right to ignore contact from their employer outside working hours, but would also penalise employers who ignore the spirit of the legislation and contact employees repeatedly.”

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