UK employees may soon get the ‘right to switch off’ outside of work which is a part of the new rules to be introduced by the Labour government.

The new rule forms part of the Labour party’s  “right to switch off” campaign pledge which seeks to empower workers to disconnect from their jobs outside of regular hours and also includes the right to refuse to take on extra work on the weekends.

The plans are expected to cover workers’ annual leave, meaning bosses would not be allowed to ask employees to carry out work-related tasks while on holiday.

They will come as part of the government’s Plan to Make Work Pay, thought to be spearheaded by new deputy prime minister Angela Rayner.

Other aspects of the rule include:

Banning exploitative zero-hours contracts, ending ‘fire and rehire’, and making sick pay available from day one of any job and ensuring working from home does not become homes turning into 24/7 offices

According to the Independent, Trades Union Congress General Secretary Paul Nowak said:

“No one should be pushed to the brink because of their job. Ever-increasing hours, pace and expectations at work are causing problems up and down the country. This is a recipe for burnt-out Britain. So we welcome these measures to tackle work intensity. Introducing a right to switch off will let workers properly disconnect outside of working hours.”