Labour’s ‘right to switch off’ pledge and why we’re no longer sacrificing personal time

The idea of ‘going the extra mile’ at work has fast become commonplace.

With so many businesses boasting ‘fast-paced environments’, unwritten expectations to be on call 24/7 and put in extra hours every day are the norm for many employees.

Perceived as the only way to advance in your career and please your employer, ‘going the extra mile’ has quickly become a toxic trait that may harm employees more than help them to advance.

Today, one in three office workers state that their boss expects them to be available outside of normal working hours, with many feeling pressured to regularly respond to emails in the evenings, at weekends, and even on holiday.

Clearly, we have conformed to this always-on way of working at the expense of our personal time and wellbeing. With the elusive promise of pay rises and promotions in return for extended hours in the office or online, we face a constant battle with fatigue, exhaustion, and stress – all tell-tale signs of burnout.

Now, with Gen Z bringing a breath of fresh air into corporate culture, we are witnessing a societal shift in the workplace. As ‘going the extra mile’ is recognised as a toxic trait, how is this playing into workplace expectations and company culture? And how can employers create a healthier environment for all employees to work at their best?

The death of ‘going above and beyond’

As Gen Z trends such as ‘quiet quitting’, ‘lazy girl jobs’ and ‘do the job you’re paid for’ gain traction, it is evident that people’s priorities are changing. For the everyday employee working a 9-5 job, it’s no longer a case of sacrificing your personal life to do a good job and get ahead in your career. This group of employees don’t want to hinder their wellbeing for career progression.

Instead, people are beginning to recognise that they can bring their best selves to work, and be more productive, if they have a healthy work life balance. In turn, employers are rapidly recognising the benefits of a positive work environment on their bottom lines. When their people feel engaged and appreciated, employers are noticing lower levels of absence, sickness, and stress, and a significant boost to employee morale. The rewards that a healthy work life balance brings are clear for both employee and employer.

Now, the new Labour government is also getting on the case, looking to implement the ‘right to switch off’ legislation. When in force, this legislation will give employees the right to “ignore” emails from their employer after work hours, with the hopes of promoting a healthier work life balance across industries. And with good reason.

The truth is productivity in the workplace isn’t about squeezing every last drop of effort out of your employees. Productivity gains come through creating a positive workplace – one where people feel heard and appreciated.

Welcome to the age of appreciation

When employers embed appreciation into their company culture, they can typically see an increase in business performance of between 5 and 7% according to our Employee Engagement: An Economic Value Study. Clearly, showing appreciation of your employees is not about one-off gifts or tokens. It’s about driving cultural change, right from the bottom to the top.

The impact this can have on businesses is undeniable. Where low morale and burnout tends to sweep through a workplace, lowering productivity and stunting business performance, appreciation can have the reverse effect. When staff feel appreciated as people outside of their job title, they’re more empathetic and collaborative, and more likely to spread positive feelings themselves. Overcoming this ‘appreciation gap’ – the space between standard workplace gestures and meaningfully meeting employees’ needs – will be a driving force for businesses wishing to boost productivity and create an environment where people thrive.

Tailor-made appreciation

The only way to appreciate employees the way they want to be appreciated is through offering benefits that truly align to their needs. During these tricky financial times for example, look to help employees by providing benefits like interest-free loans on white goods that could dampen some immediate financial worries, or why not show your support for big life decisions this year, through pet-adoption benefits, fertility support with family planning, or valuable mortgage advice? Pivot your benefits to whatever would truly help your employees to maximise appreciation and make them feel valued.

When employers look to remove toxic traits from company culture and get the most out of their people, they need to start by authentically appreciating their employees. Truly listening to their needs and providing benefits that help to promote a healthy work life balance is a first step towards this. Ultimately, when we invest in employee happiness and shift to align with their values, we attract top talent, boost productivity, and enhance innovation. It’s time for employers to go the extra mile, not employees.