The new Government’s planned ‘Right to Switch Off’ for employees is just a starting point for organisations who want to address the profound negative impact which unboundaried work has on businesses and their employees, according to newly-published research.
The research by workforce management specialist Protime UK, conducted among 2,000 UK employees and published in a new report – ‘The Work-Life Boundary Gap – Why it Matters and How to Fix it’ – found that while 93% employees said work-life balance was critical for good overall wellbeing, two thirds (67%) of employees don’t feel they can fully switch off or keep their own work-life boundaries.
The study found that poor work-life balance negatively impacted 41% employee wellbeing on a daily or weekly basis and two thirds of employees (65%) on a monthly basis or more.
Employees took an average of 5.4 days of sickness absence in the last year due to stress, anxiety or burn-out and only a quarter (26%) saying they had never taken time off for this reason.
The other key findings of the research were:
- Employees say unwanted messages and alerts are prime cause of out-of-hours interuptions: Avoiding the urge to check work emails (58%) outside of working hours and removing push-notifications (54%) are the main actions which can enable employees to mentally switch off outside of working hours.
- Maintaining work-life boundaries is primarily the responsibility of employers: 62% say managers should ensure employees can mentally switch off outside working hours and 59% say organisations should enforce boundaries.
- Respecting work-life boundaries must be supported by other actions to help employees switch-off: Respecting work-life boundaries (54%), ensuring workloads are manageable (52%) and creating a culture where switching off is respected and encouraged (48%) are the top actions employees want organisations to take.
- Employers need guidelines to manage work-life boundaries: Just one quarter of employees (24%) think employers and employees are best placed to decide on how they want to work and less than one in five (17%) thought one-size fits all rules can be bad for business.
- The ‘Right to Disconnect’ is widely supported: 72% of employees support the introduction of a ‘Right to Disconnect’ similar to Ireland’s policy, with many employees believing it would significantly improve their work-life balance and
- A significant opportunity for employers to improve the way they manage employee wellbeing: Just one in ten workers (11%) said their employer did a very good job of managing wellbeing and a quarter (26%) say there is no meaningful support for their wellbeing.
- Few organisations have a comprehensive approach to managing wellbeing: Barely one in five employees reported initiatives such as being consulted on realistic work volumes (21%), setting clear work-life boundaries (21%), the existence (18%) or enforcement of policy that protects work-life balance (20%).
Simon Garrity, UK & International Business Development at Protime, said: “Our research clearly demonstrates that unboundaried work is having a significant negative impact on employee wellbeing and productivity.
“While the ‘Right to Switch Off’ is a crucial step in the right direction, it’s just the beginning. Organisations need to take a comprehensive approach to managing work-life boundaries, including clear policies, cultural changes, and practical tools to support employees.
“The potential benefits are substantial – improved employee wellbeing, reduced burnout and absenteeism, and ultimately, enhanced productivity. It’s time for businesses to recognise that respecting work-life boundaries isn’t just good for employees; it’s essential for long-term organisational success.”
The full findings are available in the research report which can be downloaded by visiting this link: The Work-Life Boundary Gap – Why it Matters and How to Fix it.
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