The majority of New Zealanders, 82%, feel pressure to connect to work outside their normal working hours, with 46% saying they feel “frequent pressure” to work outside their standard hours, according to a survey by Hays New Zealand.

Meanwhile, 36% of New Zealanders said they “occasionally” feel pressure to work outside their normal hours, while 16% never feel pressure to connect to work after hours. The final 1% voted “other” and had a range of perspectives, from doing whatever it took to complete the work to taking calls at night in exchange for time off during the day. 

 “The lines between work and personal time have blurred, with most professionals feeling some level of pressure to connect outside normal working hours,” said David Trollope, managing director of Hays New Zealand.

“To protect employee health and well-being, improve productivity and reduce the risk of burnout, employers need to reprioritise work-life balance,” Trollope continued. “In today’s 24/7 hybrid and remote world, they must develop strategies to help their employees disconnect.”

France became the first country to introduce a “right to disconnect” in 2017. Other countries including Spain, Italy and Belgium have since passed similar laws.