WORKING long hours in the office can damage the economy, No10 has claimed.
Downing Street backed working from home as it blasted what it sees as an an outdated “presenteeism” culture.
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It insisted flexible working could boost productivity.
The new Government plans to give workers a “right to switch off” in a bid to improve work-life balance.
Under the proposal, a code of practice will be introduced, detailing standard working hours and including guidance on contacting employees out of hours.
And employers who repeatedly flout this code could face costly legal battles, according to The Times.
The Prime Minister’s spokeswoman said the Government was looking at new work models from countries such as Ireland and Belgium.
She went on: “The focus behind that is on improving productivity.
“We know that good employers understand that for workers to stay motivated and productive, they do need to be able to switch off. A culture of presenteeism can be damaging to productivity.
“So it’s about making sure we have the right balance, that we make the most of the flexible working practices that we saw following the pandemic — with also having appropriate arrangements in place to ensure that people can stay productive in light of that.”
Shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake said: “The Government must listen to the concerns of businesses before pressing ahead with their French-style union laws that could stunt growth.”
He added: “We urge Labour to give businesses a seat at the table, not just their union paymasters, when making these hugely expensive changes.”
