ICTU highlights right to disconnect on summer holidays

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions issued a reminder to workers about rights under the Code of Practice.
Employees hold the right not to perform work outside normal hours including on annual leave.
Workers possess the right not to receive penalties for refusal to attend work matters on leave.

The Irish Congress of Trade Unions has reminded workers that they hold the right to disconnect while on summer holidays. Employees exercise their legal protections under the Code of Practice on the Right to Disconnect from the Workplace Relations Commission. Officials emphasised clear boundaries around contact during annual leave.

The code confirms that workers possess the right not to perform work outside normal hours and the right not to face penalties for refusal. Dr Laura Bambrick addressed expectations to check messages during leave. Such practices erode downtime and affect health and safety.

Laura Bambrick shared “Every worker in Ireland has a legal right to annual leave which is intended to recharge your batteries, and that means you have a right to fully switch off from work, and a right not to be penalised for doing so. An expectation to ‘check in’ erodes everyone’s downtime, undermining the employee’s R&R time and ultimately their health and safety. That goes both ways. If you’re not on leave yourself, that means thinking twice before firing off a message to a colleague who is.”