'Hidden overtime' | Overwork 'epidemic' raises calls for 'right to disconnect' law

UK workers are in the midst of an ‘epidemic of hidden overtime’, and demand has risen for new laws around a ‘right to disconnect’, according to the latest report from the Autonomy thinktank.

And whilst a vast demographic of workers have been affected by the growing issue of unpaid overtime, the report also discovered that women were 43% more likely to have increased their hours beyond a standard working week than men, leading to a greater risk of negative health impacts and mental health concerns.

Alongside trade union Prospect, Autonomy is now calling for greater legislative protections for workers, proposing legislation that would create a ‘right to disconnect’. The new laws would be similar to those currently in place in France, which stipulate that employees do not have to take calls or read emails related to work during their time off.

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Similar research conducted earlier in the year by Prospect found that that 59% of all workers support the introduction of a ‘right to disconnect’, while 17% are opposed. It also found that among new remote workers, 66% were in favour and 14% against.