In these countries, it’s illegal to send work emails after 5pm

The government is planning to grant employees the power to ignore work-related calls and emails outside of their contracted hours, in an effort to combat ‘always-on’ work culture.

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is the driving force behind the scheme. Last year, she said Labour would “look at how to implement this in practice, learning from countries where it has been introduced successfully.”

Of course, this was ahead of the party winning the general election. Now that the new cabinet has settled in at Number 10, we’re offering the below briefing notes on countries that have introduced rules on the right to disconnect, and how this works in practice.

1. France

From brie to bicycles, France has pioneered some of the world’s greatest inventions. As far  back as 2001, it became the first country in the world to pass right to disconnect laws. Now, 23 years later, the legislation continues to evolve to protect the French peoples’ work-life balance.

Since 2021, as part of the El Khomri law, firms with over 50 workers must clearly lay out the hours when staff are not supposed to send or answer emails. The change means most office workers in France now legally do not have to respond to work requests on a weekend.

France has been a big proponent of work-life balance. It mandated a 35-hour working week in 2000, meaning French employees now enjoy one of the shortest work weeks in Europe.

2. Luxembourg

The nation might be small, but Luxembourg’s right to disconnect is mighty. Since 2019, the country has allowed employees’ to switch off from work after hours and while on holiday. Last year, its government stepped up efforts by adding a new article to its Labour code.

Bosses in the country are now required to define a ‘scheme’ for ensuring a right to disconnect for the workforce. This must include practical arrangements to help staff down digital work tools, such as blocking access to IT systems at set times.

Firms must also offer training courses for managers on the topic, and plan compensation for staff in the event of a breach. If they fail to comply, from July 2026, they will face fines of between €251 and €25,000. Luxembourg is truly the gold standard for this legal right.

3. Portugal

Portugal has some of the strictest penalties for companies that contact staff outside normal working hours. In 2012, it introduced laws which state that Portuguese employers are only permitted to contact employees in cases of emergency.

The punishment for breaching these laws is substantial. A company with a turnover of €500,000 (around £421,000) would face a fine of around £4,000.

This is just one reason why Portugal has become an attractive work destination for Brits. Its digital nomad visa is one of the most searched-for on Google; although the influx of foreign remote workers has also caused some backlash from locals.

4. Italy

Italians are famous for their late-night dinners and its Italian siesta, known as a riposo. With rest and relaxation forming an integral part of the country’s culture, it’s no surprise the boot of Europe has also introduced rules on kicking your boss out of your downtime.

Since 2021, Italian workers can switch off from their working devices without it having an impact on their performance or pay review. All remote working contracts must also have clear start and finish times to guarantee a time of disconnection.

Italy introduced its own digital nomad visa scheme earlier this year. If you like the promise of a gelato-fuelled 5pm finish, La Dolce Vita might be for you.

5. Australia

One of the best-known stereotypes about down under is the laid-back Aussie approach to life. That relaxed attitude was written into law this year, after the Australian government passed legislation to give employees the right to ignore late night calls from bosses.

Under the law, managers can still contact staff. But if business communication takes place outside of work hours, the employee can choose to go walkabout and refuse to monitor, read or respond to texts, emails or calls (so long as the refusal is considered ‘reasonable’).

Employers found to be in breach of the law could face civil penalties. The act received royal assent in February, and the new employee right will commence at the end of August.

6. Slovakia

Slovakia’s right to disconnect rules are a direct response to the rise in remote working. Introduced two years after COVID-19, they were rolled out following the number of people in the global remote workforce who say they do longer hours when working at home.

Under the amended Slovak Labour Code, remote team members are permitted to refuse to use work equipment (such as business mobiles or laptops) during designated rest breaks.

That means Slovakian employees don’t have to respond to work-related communication outside of work hours, annual leave, public holidays, and even lunch breaks. Crucially, bosses are also not allowed to discipline employees who choose to exercise this right.

7. Ireland

Ireland’s laws on the Right to Disconnect are a good template for what the UK government’s right to switch off rules may look like. Since 2021, Irish employers are advised to respect the workforce’s right to disconnect by avoiding out of hours contact, where reasonable.

It’s a fairly vague policy. Compared to Portugal or France, critics say it doesn’t go far enough, and acts as a code of best practice rather than a legal requirement. However, codes can be useful if a workplace conflict arises between bosses and employees.

In tribunals, such as personal injury or constructive dismissal, the code is useful for bosses to understand what is or is not reasonable. While not legally binding, it will likely still influence Irish workplaces to consider the impact of OOO messaging on staff wellbeing.

What is the right to switch off?

In a recent survey by VoIP provider RingCentral, 63% of UK staff members said they bring work home with them by checking notifications outside of working hours.

The issue is becoming increasingly pronounced, as new technologies make employees more available than ever. Many remote workers are even expected to use their personal mobiles for work, further blurring professional and personal boundaries.

With stress and burnout levels rising, the new government has signalled it intends to introduce a code of best practice to businesses, in order to stave off unemployment.

Currently, Brits have no official right to disconnect outside of their work hours. Employers can establish their own policies, but without official legislation, there is little impetus to do so.

Under the recommendations, workers could screen WhatsApp messages, emails and phone calls from bosses. They would also be considered uncontactable while on annual leave.

Organisations concerned about the impact of always on office culture should seek to get ahead of the legislation. Guidelines on when employees should be allowed to turn off notifications can set clear boundaries and allow the workforce to switch off.