While the vast majority of British SME bosses with HR responsibilities support proposals to give staff the ‘right to switch off’, new research shows that many professionals struggle to do so.
A new study from talent solutions firm Robert Walters reveals that 70 percent of UK professionals are finding it increasingly difficult to disconnect from work, even after office hours. Many professionals report that their personal time is frequently interrupted by work-related messages, emails, or calls, and this struggle to switch off is leading to sleep disruption and higher stress levels.
The research highlights growing concerns about an “always available” work culture, with over two-thirds (67%) of professionals feeling pressured to remain accessible outside regular hours.
This survey follows the UK government’s delay in implementing policy changes around the right to disconnect, which is now set to be part of the “Next Steps to Make Work Pay” initiative.
Lucy Bisset, Director of Robert Walters North, said, “Not being able to fully ‘switch off’ from work can result in a variety of negative side effects for professionals. From diminished concentration and motivation to their productivity and engagement levels dropping off.”
Impact on Well-being and Sleep Patterns
The inability to fully disengage from work is taking a toll on professionals’ well-being, with 29 percent of respondents reporting lost sleep due to work-related matters. Additionally, one-quarter of professionals cite an inability to relax or mentally reset for the following day, impacting their productivity and mental health.
Furthermore, 35 percent of UK workers report increased stress or anxiety from their lack of work-life separation. Bisset underlined the risk of long-term effects on performance, saying, “Missing out on hours of sleep, being unable to fully relax as well as experiencing increased stress or anxiety can pose a huge threat to a professional’s ability to work, even carrying out regular tasks and activities.”
Always-Available Work Culture on the Rise
The survey reveals a growing “always-available” work culture, with the majority of professionals feeling compelled to check emails and calls outside of regular hours. In fact, 76 percent admit to regularly reviewing work-related messages when not in the office, and one in five report frequent contacts from employers outside office hours.
This trend is attributed in part to the increased use of workplace technology, such as Teams and Slack, which enables continuous connectivity. Bisset said, “Over recent years the boom of workplace tech like Teams and Slack has meant that teams can be more easily tracked and contacted by their managers, whilst the rise of hybrid/remote working has caused professionals to literally bring work home with them.
“An ‘always online’ workplace culture contributes to the blurring of lines between office hours and personal time as well as an increasingly unrealistic expectation for greater availability. This is something that if left unchecked can rapidly lead to increased cases of burnout across workforces.”
Hybrid Working and Industry Variation
Hybrid and flexible working arrangements are becoming common, yet accessibility varies across industries. While 86 percent of UK companies offer hybrid working, this option is more prevalent in financial services (93%) and technology (87%), whereas only 64 percent of engineering roles include hybrid-working options.
Flexible hours also show disparity, with professionals in general management (65%) more likely to have flexible schedules than those in tax, legal, and compliance roles (46%). Bisset added that remote work may contribute to difficulties in maintaining boundaries, stating, “Professionals in traditionally on-site roles often have a clear boundary between work and personal life – being able to ‘clock off’ when they finish for the day. Something which becomes more blurred for those working from home, with many professionals who have a hybrid-working schedule literally bringing work home with them 2-3 days out of the week.”
Solutions to Prevent a ‘Zombie Workforce’
Professionals surveyed highlighted several measures that could help alleviate the pressure to be always available. Two-fifths suggested setting realistic deadlines, while 27 percent advocated for limits on out-of-office contact. Other recommendations included enhancing well-being programmes (16%) and encouraging regular breaks throughout the workday (16%).
“Employers who verge on creating a ‘zombie workforce’ put employee productivity, engagement and satisfaction levels on the line. This could also directly lead to a rise in cases of absenteeism throughout their organisation,” Bisset said.
“This issue must be addressed head on, by establishing a solid foundation of achievable deadlines, manageable workloads along with clear boundaries between work and personal time – for both those working from the office and at home. Once this groundwork is set, additional improvements like enhanced wellbeing incentives can be introduced.”
Alessandra Pacelli is a journalist and author contributing to HRreview, an HR news and opinion publication, where she covers topics including labour market trends, employment costs, and workplace issues. She is a journalism graduate and self-described lifelong dog lover who has also written for Dogs Today magazine since 2014.
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
- Alessandra Pacelli
