A new code of practice developed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) is to give workers the ‘right to disconnect’.

The code, signed by Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade & Employment Leo Varadkar today (1 April), sets out how companies and organisations should approach the issue of activity outside normal working hours.

It gives employees the right to switch off from work outside of normal working hours, including the right to not respond immediately to emails, telephone calls or other messages.

There are three rights enshrined in the code:

• The right of an employee to not have to routinely perform work outside their normal working hours,
• The right not to be penalised for refusing to attend to work matters outside of normal working hours,
• The duty to respect another person’s right to disconnect (by not routinely emailing or calling outside normal working hours).

Work-life balance

“The code of practice comes into effect immediately and applies to all types of employment, whether you are working remotely or not,” said the Tánaiste. “It will help employees, no matter what their job is, to strike a better work-life balance and switch off from work outside of their normal working hours.”

If problems or issues arise, employees have the right to raise the matter with the WRC.

The Tánaiste is also opening a public consultation process on plans to put the right to ask for remote working into law. The closing date for submissions is Friday 7 May.