Working overtime considered necessary & acceptable

A recent survey conducted by Startups.co.uk has revealed that over a third (39%) of UK business leaders consider it necessary or acceptable for employees to work beyond their contracted hours

Just 11% of business leaders believe this is unfair and harmful to employee wellbeing.

Young startups perpetuate “always on” culture

UK startups that are less than a year old were found to have an above average rate of considering it necessary or acceptable to contact employees outside of working hours, at 45%. 

This could be due to many young businesses fostering a startup culture of fast communication and flexible responsibilities to ensure survival.  

UK is lagging behind Europe for right to switch off  policies

Currently, Brits have no official right to disconnect outside of their work hours.

The UK is currently lagging behind other European countries, such as France, Italy and Portugal, that have already made steps to prevent workers being contacted out of hours.

A UK call for the Right to Switch Off policy comes after years of blurred lines, enhanced by hybrid and remote work rising and technology advances. 

What’s the UK government doing about it?

With stress and burnout levels rising, the new government strongly suggested it intends to introduce a code of best practice to businesses, yet the Right to Switch Off was missing from the Employment Rights Bill.

Editor of Startups.co.uk Zohra Huda says: 

“The Right To Switch Off debate has small businesses stuck between a rock and a hard place. They want to do the right thing by their employees but at what cost to their productivity and profitability?

 With the government hesitant to act decisively, it could be a tricky year ahead of navigating muddy waters.”