‘Right to switch off’ – Just the starting point for improving employee wellbeing and productivity

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Joanne Swann
Man smiling with his eyes closed
Man smiling with his eyes closed

The new government’s planned ‘Right to Switch Off’ for employees is just a starting point for organisations who want to address the profound negative impact which unboundaried work has on businesses and their employees, according to new research released today by Protime UK.

The research, conducted among 2,000 UK employees and published in a new report “The Work-Life Boundary Gap – Why it Matters and How to Fix it”, found that while 93% employees said work-life balance was critical for good overall wellbeing, two thirds (67%) of employees don’t feel they can fully switch off or keep their own work-life boundaries.

The study found that poor work-life balance negatively impacted 41% employee wellbeing on a daily or weekly basis and two thirds of employees (65%) on a monthly basis or more.

Employees took an average of 5.4 days of sickness absence in the last year due to stress, anxiety or burn-out and only a quarter (26%) saying they had never taken time off for this reason.

The other key findings of the research were:

  • Employees say unwanted messages and alerts are prime cause of out-of-hours interuptions: Avoiding the urge to check work emails (58%) outside of working hours and removing push-notifications (54%) are the main actions which can enable employees to mentally switch off outside of working hours.
  • Maintaining work-life boundaries is primarily the responsibility of employers: 62% say managers should ensure employees can mentally switch off outside working hours and 59% say organisations should enforce boundaries.
  • Respecting work-life boundaries must be supported by other actions to help employees switch-off: Respecting work-life boundaries (54%), ensuring workloads are manageable (52%) and creating a culture where switching off is respected and encouraged (48%) are the top actions employees want organisations to take.
  • Employers need guidelines to manage work-life boundaries: Just one quarter of employees (24%) think employers and employees are best placed to decide on how they want to work and less than one in five (17%) thought one-size fits all rules can be bad for business.
  • The ‘Right to Disconnect’ is widely supported:  72% of employees support the introduction of a ‘Right to Disconnect’ similar to Ireland’s policy, with many employees believing it would significantly improve their work-life balance and
  • A significant opportunity for employers to improve the way they manage employee wellbeing: Just one in ten workers (11%) said their employer did a very good job of managing wellbeing and a quarter (26%) say there is no meaningful support for their wellbeing.
  • Few organisations have a comprehensive approach to managing wellbeing: Barely one in five employees reported initiatives such as being consulted on realistic work volumes (21%), setting clear work-life boundaries (21%), the existence (18%) or enforcement of policy that protects work-life balance (20%).

Commenting on the research and the importance of the Right to Switch Off, Simon Garrity, UK & International Business Development, Protime said: 

Organisations need to take a comprehensive approach to managing work-life boundaries, including clear policies, cultural changes, and practical tools to support employees. The potential benefits are substantial – improved employee wellbeing, reduced burnout and absenteeism, and ultimately, enhanced productivity. It’s time for businesses to recognise that respecting work-life boundaries isn’t just good for employees; it’s essential for long-term organisational success.

Simon Garrity, UK & International Business Development, Protime

The full findings are available in the research report which can be downloaded by visiting this link: The Work-Life Boundary Gap – Why it Matters and How to Fix it.

Joanne Swann, Content Manager, WorkWellPro
Editor at Workplace Wellbeing Professional | Website |  + posts

Joanne is the editor for Workplace Wellbeing Professional and has a keen interest in promoting the safety and wellbeing of the global workforce. After earning a bachelor's degree in English literature and media studies, she taught English in China and Vietnam for two years. Before joining Work Well Pro, Joanne worked as a marketing coordinator for luxury property, where her responsibilities included blog writing, photography, and video creation.

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