Do senior civil servants deserve a “right to disconnect” from their job – or are they too well-paid to complain? 

A new survey from the Association of Higher Civil and Public Servants (AHCPS) found that 60% of staff are contacted for work reasons while they’re on annual leave. 

Some 83% said they receive emails and text messages outside of work hours, while 30% said the work level is “unsustainable”. 

AHCPS General Secretary Ciaran Rohan said it is “accepted occasionally” that people need to do extra work outside their typical hours. 

“But it seems to be happening more now on a regular basis,” he told Newstalk Breakfast. 

“Maybe it's a hangover from COVID when it became normal to be contacted at all times.” 

Presenter Ciara Kelly noted that AHCPS represents many of the best-paid public servants, with the highest earners making over €200,000 a year.  

Speaking on the show earlier, she said there is certainly a right to disconnect from work – but civil servants are not the worst affected. 

“I do get that there are people put upon by their job and aren't in a position so say no when the email and the demands come in at 7pm,” she said. 

“I’m not sure [civil servants] is that group. 

“I'm sure there are more low-paid workers who feel they can't say they're being put upon, but this group is very well protected.” 

When asked about this later, Mr Rohan said the amount you earn shouldn’t dictate your rights. 

“I accept that we have to work additional hours occasionally,” he said. 

“But our members are telling us that 60% of them are being contacted on annual leave, 30% said the level of work is unsustainable. 

“Everybody is entitled at some point to say the working day is over.” 

The right to disconnect for all

Ciara maintained that it should be at least acknowledged that less protected workers earning less should be the ones pushing for the right to disconnect. 

“The people who really can’t push back against being contacted out of hours actually are the ones on crappy wages and aren’t in a position to argue,” she said. 

She suggested this debate represented the disconnect between public sector workers and private sector workers, with the public sector earning more. 

According to the Central Statistics Office (CSO), there was no clear difference between public and private sector pay between 2019 and 2022. 

The AHCPS is calling for legislation on the right to disconnect, similar to legislation in France, that prevents employers from sanctioning staff who do not respond outside of work hours. 

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