Team Cognitive Health playbook/Module 10 · Building the system

Day 97 / 100 · Building the system · Right-to-disconnect and focus policies

Write the boundary. Then live it.

France (2017), Portugal (2021) and Australia (2024) have legislated forms of the right to disconnect. In SA there's no specific statute yet, so it comes down to company policy.

After hours

No Expected Replies

  • Messages can wait until morning
  • Scheduled send by default
  • On-call is explicit and paid for

Focus time

Protected In Policy

  • Team focus blocks recognised
  • Meeting-free windows
  • Not overridden by seniority

Exceptions

A Defined Urgent Path

  • What truly counts as urgent
  • Who can escalate, and how
  • Reviewed when abused

Source: Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr ↗

Write the boundary. Then live it.