With the ‘right to disconnect’ having come into effect on 26 August 2024, council employees now have a workplace right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact from their employer outside of working hours, unless the refusal is ‘unreasonable’. With the legislation still relatively new, it remains to be seen how this right will impact on Councillor interactions with staff. However, what is clear is that with both human resources and governance implications, councils need to consider how to navigate this change from both a staff and Councillor perspective.

‘Right to disconnect’ webinar

Our partners Kate Oliver, Lindy Richardson, Catherine Dunlop, and Ross Jackson explored the ‘right to disconnect’ in a webinar held in July 2024; sharing their expert perspectives on how to comply with this new legislation.

Watch our webinar to understand:

• Why the right has been introduced

• What the changes mean for Councillor and staff interactions

• How to determine an ‘unreasonable’ refusal

• How to manage the new right and minimise the risk of adverse action claims