Right to Switch Off

News | 5 March 2025

Written by: James Millican
Trainee Solicitor

Written by: James Millican, Trainee Solicitor

Government Sources suggest that the right to switch off outside work hours, a proposal that was considered a key element of Sir Keir Starmer’s “New Deal for Working People”, may not be implemented.

The proposal aimed to strengthen employment rights by allowing workers to ignore work-related emails and calls outside office hours. It has been considered to have been dropped due to not being included in the Employment Rights Bill, with original predictions stating that it would have been added by this Committee Stage. As the Bill has now cleared the Committee Stage and moved on to the Report Stage, implementation seems increasingly unlikely. This is compounded by a recent article in The Sunday Times, which reports that it’s government source stated that the “right to switch off is dead”.

Whilst it may seem unlikely that it will now be added, there is still a chance that it may be implemented through an amendment if it is selected by the Speaker. It would be atypical for an amendment to be considered that would introduce a change of this magnitude.

If you are an employee or an employer requiring legal advice, please get in touch with our Employment Team on 020 8290 0440 (Bromley) or 01732 496 496 (Sevenoaks) or email employment@thackraywilliams.com.