The Guardian view on switching off: a right worth protecting in an always-on culture | Editorial

The nature of work is evolving rapidly, and many of us can benefit from more flexible and secure employment

In a digital age, getting away from the office is a necessary but not sufficient condition of being on holiday. Work encroaches on leisure time by multiple channels. The potential to be available by email can mutate into an obligation. Even when there is no direct pressure from bosses or colleagues, the psychological habit of logging on, spurred by fear of exclusion, can be hard to overcome.

This trend was established before the pandemic, but patterns of remote and hybrid working established in lockdown have further dissolved boundaries between work and home. That fluidity is mostly a benefit for employers and employees alike. It can widen labour market participation for people with disabilities or caring duties. There are good reasons why offices didn’t all revert to pre-pandemic practice.

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