Staff contacted about work out of hours could be entitled to thousands in compensation

The plans could add thousands onto compensation payouts

Staff who are repeatedly contacted by their bosses out of hours about work could be entitled to thousands in compensation, under government plans.

Labour has said it plans to introduce a right to switch off, which would put a barrier between their working and home lives. The plans could see staff secure significant payouts at employment tribunals if their work continues to contact them.

The policy will see employees and employers agree to an expected set of hours during which they can be contacted, and has been based on similar policies in Belgium and Ireland.

The Times reports that bosses and employers who consistently breach the agreed contact hours could have thousands added to their compensation bills if they are taken to tribunal.

Whilst out-of-hours contact would be unlikely to prompt litigation on its own, it could be used as an aggravating factor in a wider claim.

This could help their chances of winning and increase any potential compensation.

At the moment, if companies are found to have ignored codes of practice, the amount of compensation awarded in tribunals can increase by 25 per cent.

Experts told The Times breaching agreements on out-of-hours working could see compensation payouts reach thousands of pounds.

Ministers are said to be aware of the disproportional impact the new plans could have on smaller companies, where out-of-hours contact with employees may be more necessary.

The plans are part of a raft of reforms Labour is introducing to bolster workers’ rights, along with measures such as banning zero-hour contracts and increasing the minimum wage.