By Joleen Murphy
Workers will be able to take their employer to the WRC for frequently contacting them outside of working hours.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar has signed a new code giving people the right to disconnect.
He's also started a consultation on proposed new laws giving people a right to request to work from home.
Tánaiste Leo Varadkar says as of today people have new rights.
"Essentially it has three elements.
"The first is that you have the right not be routinely expected to reply to phone calls and emails out of hours
"You have the right not to be penalised for refusing to do so
"You have the duty to respect other peoples rights in that regard also."
Employees who feel their rights have been breached will now be able to take a case to the Workplace Relations Commission.
Dr Laura Bambrick from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, says the code is necessary particularly considering the shift to working from home.
"What the code really does is ensure that employers are being compliant with their existing obligations and that workers know their rights that are already their given the massive changes."
