'Watered down' | Government set to axe 'right to switch off' plan amid Employment Rights Bill edits

The UK government looks set to scrap a proposed ‘right to switch off’ as it amends its plans to overhaul workers’ rights. 

The ‘right to switch off’ was originally intended to protect employees from having to engage with work-related communications outside of contracted hours - such as late night emails, texts or calls from their employer.

Shortly after winning the 2024 General Election, Labour said it was eyeing up similar legislation from nations like the Republic of Ireland and Belgium.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister Keir Starmer previously told the BBC that the UK plans were “about ensuring people have some time to rest” and that “we’re not inadvertently blurring the lines between work and home life".