‘Work-life balance’ or ‘work-life merge’? Will the Right to Disconnect protect employee well-being?

What is The Right to Disconnect?

Imagine a world where your workday when the clock strikes at 5, and your phone stops pinging with work emails. That’s the dream the Right to Disconnect promises—a clean break from work after hours. This concept is a real legislative proposal, notably highlighted by the Labour Party in their 2021 Green Paper, “A New Deal for Working People.” They’ve pledged to introduce an Employment Rights Bill within 100 days of taking office, making it ‘illegal’ for employers to demand work-related communication outside your contracted hours. Essentially, it’s a call to reclaim personal time and draw a bold line between work and home-life.

One in three UK CEOs would deny the Right to Disconnect, but why?

Recent findings from Icompario show that 36% of UK CEOs aren’t sold on the idea of formalising the right to disconnect. This resistance stands in contrast to the 66% of workers who are all for it. Even within the executive suite, nearly 72% are on board with the concept. So, what’s behind this split?

Some CEOs argue that top-tier roles, especially in high-paying executive and professional positions, naturally come with an expectation of being available beyond the usual nine-to-five. They see this flexibility as part of the job’s allure and its hefty compensation. But this perspective might be overlooking the benefits of letting employees truly disconnect—benefits like higher productivity, better mental health, and a more satisfied workforce

The consequences of ignoring the Right to Disconnect

Naturally, failing to respect the right to disconnect leads to a hyper-stressful work environment. Beyond the obvious symptoms of burnout, such environments often see an increase in mistakes, absenteeism, and a significant drop in productivity—all of which can drastically reduce the bottom line. The implications extend beyond the workplace; according to a paper published by the International Studies of Management and Organization, overwork can harm employees’ professional, personal, and social lives.

Even with the best intentions, fostering a work-life balance culture and promoting mental wellness, the issue can still permeate your organisation. So, what can be done to address it effectively?

Zoho To The Rescue

Keeping balance is crucial, and that’s where Zoho comes in. With a clever suite of features to make sure everyone can disconnect and recharge, without a late night work ‘ding’.

Zoho Mail

For the boss

• Schedule Send: This feature allows you to compose emails and schedule them to be sent during working hours. This ensures that employees are not disturbed by work-related notifications outside their designated work time.
• Delay Delivery: Similar to Schedule Send, this feature delays the delivery of an email for a specific period. You can use this to ensure that the email reaches the employee’s inbox during their work hours.

For the team member

• Out-of-Office Replies: Set clear and informative out-of-office replies indicating that emails won’t be checked outside of working hours. Encourage employees to do the same.
• Quiet Hours: Use the “Quiet Hours” feature to silence notifications during non-work hours, both for yourself and your employees.
  Email Scheduling: Utilise email scheduling to delay the sending of emails to within working hours.

Zoho Cliq

For the boss

• Do Not Disturb (DND) Mode: Before sending a message, check the employee’s status. If they are in DND mode, it indicates they are not available and should not be disturbed. Wait until their status changes or send an email instead.
• Set Availability: Clearly set your own availability status in Zoho Cliq. This helps employees understand when you are available for communication and when you are not.
• Use the schedule feature

For the team member

• Status: Actively use status settings to indicate availability (“Do Not Disturb,” “Away,” etc.) and encourage employees to do the same.
• Notifications: Customise notification settings for yourself and your team to limit distractions outside of working hours.

Zoho People

• Work Schedule: Be mindful of the work schedule set for each employee in Zoho People. Avoid sending messages outside their designated work hours, respecting their personal time.
• Communication Guidelines: Uses policies. Establish clear communication guidelines with your team about expectations regarding after-hours communication. This will help set boundaries and ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Time Tracking: If you use Zoho People for time tracking, ensure it’s configured to accurately reflect working hours and encourage employees to log off outside those hours.
• Leave Management: Use leave management to encourage employees to take time off to rest and recharge.

Zoho CRM

• Workflow Rules: Consider creating workflow rules to automate tasks that might typically require after-hours attention. This could include assigning leads to different team members based on availability.

What other measures can you take?

Harness the Power of Dedicated Devices – Encouraging the use of separate devices for work and personal tasks helps employees disconnect. This simple strategy can make a significant difference in maintaining work-life balance.

Respecting Communication Boundaries – It’s essential to honour colleagues’ statuses, like “Do Not Disturb,” to minimise interruptions. This respect fosters a culture of consideration and efficiency, preventing unnecessary distractions that, according to Loom, cost the global economy $21 billion annually.

Leading by Example – Leaders set the tone for the organisation. By respecting their own work-life balance and making it clear that there’s no expectation for immediate responses after hours, they encourage the same behaviour among their team. A well-crafted email signature can communicate this clearly, helping to set boundaries.

Wrapping up

The Right to Disconnect is a step towards ensuring employees can fully unplug and recharge, which is crucial for overall well-being and productivity. While some employers may have reservations, the benefits of supporting a healthy work-life balance are clear. With tools like Zoho, businesses can implement practical solutions that respect employees’ time and foster a more positive workplace culture. It’s about creating a better work environment for everyone.