We are working more than ever. A peek at email while you’re getting the toddler out of bed; reviewing a presentation at nearly midnight around a dimly lit kitchen table, when you’re finally getting to eat that dinner you made hours earlier, while on an conference call. If increased flexibility has been a boon for workers in the pandemic era, it has also meant that we’ve had fewer and fewer chances to disconnect.
As bad as things have become, however, this always-on culture has been in motion for years, and it’s something many countries have been looking to mitigate with ‘right-to-disconnect’ legislation – laws that give workers the ability to step back from their jobs without penalties. But now, the pandemic has left workers especially burnt out – so addressing the problem has never been more critical.
Ireland is trying to do just that. Although several countries, primarily in Europe, have enacted varying levels of past legislation on the right to disconnect, Ireland is among the first countries to try and introduce a code specifically centring the new, work-from-home era. Ireland’s post-Covid-19 rules are meant to preserve work-life balance and protect all workers, including those who work remotely and flexibly – something that past laws have not considered.
However, the solution may not be as straightforward as it seems. In practice, it may actually be near impossible to combine the ability to log off with the freedom to work remotely, especially if that means creating timetables different to other colleagues. And, in a worse case scenario, some experts are also warning that mismanagement of these initiatives could compromise some of the flexibility workers have only recently been able to negotiate.
So, is it possible to enshrine the right to disconnect in a new, remote-work world? Or are we still heading for the overburden and burnout we’re trying to avoid, no matter what laws are in the works?
A new kind of right to disconnect?
Across the world, countries have been trying to figure out how to enact effective right-to-disconnect legislation for years. These laws and regulations manifest in different ways – some putting a cap on the workday or workweek, some limiting communication after hours. But all mean to protect employees from overwork, and shield them from any repercussions of shutting off.
