Welcome for the right to disconnect
The professional body for human resource and learning & development has welcomed the launch of a Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect. CIPD Ireland was reacting to the release of the document drawn up by the Workplace Relations Commission, for which it contributed a submission earlier this year.
The group views the Right to Disconnect as a wellbeing activity to support the worklife balance of workers. In a
CIPD Ireland 2021 survey, over a third of respondents reported that mental health was a contributing cause of absenteeism.
Director of the group,
Mary Connaughton said she’s pleased to see that many of her group’s recommendations have been taken on board. “The Right to Disconnect has grown exponentially in relevance over the past year and we strongly welcome this new Code of Practice. We believe it strikes a reasonable balance between the wellbeing of workers and the realities facing companies in the national and multinational spheres.
“We had recommended any guidelines recognise the right of workers to switch off their digital devices after work without facing negative consequences for not responding to communications and we’re happy to see this included in the Code”.
The CIPD Ireland submission also highlighted the importance of respect, both for oneself in disconnecting from work and for the work life balance boundaries of others and this is also recognised In the code.
Mary welcomed the government’s acknowledgement that the Code is flexible, and is agile enough to be applied to enterprises that have an international aspect to their business.