Labour’s ‘right to switch off’ is ‘unfeasible’ in UK academia

Deal with this, yes, but just as important is to get rid of the new centralised timetabling systems which are destroying research time.

There is something in this about managing 'customer' expectations around response times and ensuring clear communication. I know far too many academics who are accessible to students 24/7 and this should never be the case. If we are really preparing students for employability demonstrating boundaries and balance surely has to be a part of it.

Although there is plenty of work to do - there remains much personal autonomy on when and where to work - which is part of what makes academia an attractive workplace. Nonetheless narrowly focussed managerialism around research (outputs) combined with the passion academics tend to have for our subjects can lead to overwork - maybe the proposals are a salutary reminder of the need for us to work less hard?

Having the 'right' to switch off does not mean that I have to do so. If I am at my computer, which given that my hobby involves researching, writing, and creating a website I usually am even when off-duty, I'll see what I can do... but no promises. Although the student who tried a Teams call at nearly 9pm on Friday discovered that I was in the middle of running a game of Dungeons & Dragons over Teams for fellow academics, so I threatened to set some monsters on him :) He came back on Monday. Teams was then a monster free zone.

It is possible to switch off if you want to. Just that the 'managerial/admin' roles thrust on academics will not let you switch off with endless (and lengthy) meetings, meaningless tasks and to do lists (always urgent) and endless hand holding. Surely, this is not the role of an academic? We would much rather be immersed in our research and teaching.