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Understanding the right to disconnect | What UK school leaders need to know
Written by Jane Hallas on 18 November 2024
In recent years, the “right to disconnect” concept has gained significant attention across various sectors, including education. For school leaders in the UK, the implications of this emerging concept are essential to understand, particularly as schools grapple with increasing digital communication and the shift toward more flexible work models.
This blog explores the right to disconnect, how it impacts school leaders, and how schools can prepare for potential legislation in this area.
What is the right to disconnect?
The right to disconnect refers to employees’ right to disengage from work-related communications outside their contracted working hours. This can mean not responding to emails, texts, or calls when an employee is off duty, on weekends, or on holidays. The goal is to create clear boundaries between work and personal time, reducing burnout and promoting mental wellbeing.
Countries like France and Ireland have already adopted versions of this legislation, and there is a growing call for similar protections in the UK.
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How is this relevant to school leaders?
School leaders face unique demands that make a clear work-life boundary challenging to maintain. The role often involves being ‘on-call’ beyond school hours, whether to respond to urgent matters, address parental concerns, or handle administrative issues.
This heightened level of accessibility can lead to stress and burnout, a problem that has worsened post-pandemic as digital communication in education has become more prevalent. Indeed, according to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the education sector reports significantly higher rates of stress than the average for all industries.
As calls for work-life balance gain traction in the UK, school leaders may soon see formalised guidelines or legislation that define their right to disconnect.
Current status of right to disconnect in the UK
Although discussions are underway, the UK has yet to pass any right-to-disconnect legislation. The government has, however, indicated an openness to considering legislation aimed at protecting workers’ mental health, with the right to disconnect being a key area of focus. This would likely begin with sectors experiencing high levels of burnout, such as education.
The Trade Union Congress (TUC) and various educational unions have advocated for this right, noting the critical need to safeguard mental health and wellbeing within the education sector.
Potential impact on school leadership
If the UK adopts a right-to-disconnect policy, school leaders may need to reconsider how they structure their work and communication practices. Potential impacts include:
- Clearer communication policies: Schools may need to establish guidelines that define acceptable hours for non-urgent communications. This would clarify expectations for all staff and help set boundaries around availability.
- Redistribution of responsibilities: Schools might reallocate after-hours responsibilities to designated personnel on a rotational basis or implement more robust on-call systems to avoid overloading specific individuals.
- Wellbeing programmes and training: A right-to-disconnect policy could encourage schools to invest more in wellbeing programmes, focusing on training staff and leadership teams to manage boundaries effectively.
For school leaders, this may mean adjusting their habits and expectations, both for themselves and their staff, fostering a culture that respects personal time and encourages switching off.
Challenges and considerations for implementation
While the benefits of disconnect legislation are clear, there are potential challenges.
Most obviously, school leaders frequently face urgent issues that require after-hours attention. Implementing a disconnect policy without disrupting the school’s operations will require careful planning.
Furthermore, many leaders and teachers are used to staying connected, especially during critical times of the year like exam seasons or Ofsted inspections. Schools may need a gradual approach to establish new norms around work hours and availability.
There’s also the issue of resource constraints, as adjusting workloads and managing after-hours communication may require additional staffing or technological solutions, which carry cost implications.
5 steps schools can take to prepare
While there is no formal right to disconnect legislation in the UK yet, school leaders can take proactive steps to prepare for such a change, including:
Auditing communication practices
Review current communication patterns and identify when most after-hours communications occur. Understanding these trends will help identify areas where boundaries could be reinforced.
Establishing preliminary policies
Implement initial guidelines that encourage respecting personal time, such as sending emails with ‘delay delivery’ features or clarifying which messages are time sensitive.
Providing staff training
Educate staff on the importance of digital boundaries and encourage practices that prioritise wellbeing, such as turning off notifications during non-work hours.
Monitoring wellbeing metrics
Regularly monitor staff wellbeing through surveys or informal meetings to assess the impact of communication practices and identify areas needing improvement.
Consulting with unions
If schools have recognition agreements, they should include the unions in the above.
Current status of right to disconnect in the UK
If the right to disconnect becomes a legal standard, it will likely catalyse a shift in the broader education culture. School leaders will have an opportunity to shape this new landscape, advocating for work environments that prioritise sustainable workloads and protect mental health. The right to disconnect could help attract and retain talent in education, offering leaders a tool to combat burnout and support long-term career satisfaction.
Final thoughts
For UK school leaders, the right to disconnect offers both challenges and opportunities. While the demands of the role mean that some flexibility will always be required, respecting personal time is crucial to maintaining a healthy, productive workforce. By beginning to adopt and advocate for practices that encourage disconnecting, school leaders can stay ahead of potential legislation and demonstrate a commitment to the wellbeing of their teams.
Finding balance in a highly connected world will remain an ongoing challenge as education evolves, but taking steps to support healthier boundaries is an investment in the resilience and success of staff and students.
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