Workers reminded of right to disconnect on summer leave

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) has reminded workers that their right to disconnect from work applies while on annual leave this summer.

ICTU said it is important that workers know they have a legal right to switch off from work while on leave which includes checking emails or answering texts and calls.

Under the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect from the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) employees have the right to not have to routinely perform work outside normal working hours, including being contacted on annual leave.

They also have the right not to be penalised for refusing to attend to work matters outside normal working hours, including while on annual leave.

"Every worker in Ireland has a legal right to annual leave which is intended to recharge your batteries, and that means you have a right to fully switch off from work, and a right not to be penalised for doing so," said Dr Laura Bambrick, Social Policy Officer with the Irish Congress of Trade Unions.

"An expectation to 'check in' erodes everyone's downtime, undermining the employee’s R&R time and ultimately their health and safety."

"That goes both ways. If you're not on leave yourself, that means thinking twice before firing off a message to a colleague who is."

"A quick email might feel harmless to send, but it lands on someone else's holiday, and it puts pressure on them to respond," Dr Bambrick said.