Gloucester-based webhosting company Fasthosts has conducted research into the effect of hybrid working.

The company found that almost half of British office workers were receiving five to 10 emails outside their contracted hours every day.

In the aftermath of the pandemic, many workers have begun to place more value on their work/life balance and what's important to them. Both employees and employers are becoming more proactive when it comes to looking after their mental health.

Even without lockdown restrictions, working from home is an effect of the pandemic that is likely to last. More than a third of Brits have been working from home at least once a week in 2022 so far.

This shift towards flexible working has brought about many wellbeing benefits. However, there are also drawbacks. With many employees' desks moving to their bedrooms, kitchens and living rooms, the line between work life and home life is blurring more than ever.

One poll conducted last year by the Royal Society for Public Health revealed that 56 per cent of homeworkers were finding it more difficult to switch off after work. The problem is worsened by the rise of out-of-hours emails.

Sending and receiving emails outside of work hours has been an issue in workplaces for many years. With an increased number of people working remotely, this issue has only grown worse.

Most respondents to Fasthosts' survey said they tend to reply to out-of-hours emails. Meanwhile, another study concluded that the increase in emails both during and after work has meant that the average workday is now almost 50 minutes longer.

This, coupled with hybrid working, has created an environment in workplaces where employees increasingly feel like they never leave work and need to be available 24/7. This can have a hugely negative impact on their wellbeing, with many struggling to cope with the pressure of always needing to be 'online'.

Fasthosts found that 51 per cent of workers say they're less than a month away from burnout.

A spokesperson for Fasthosts said: "After-work emails are contributing to the erosion of the work/ life balance. It is a growing problem that needs to be urgently addressed."

These increases in work hours have led to various calls for bans on after-work emails. It's a movement often known as the 'right to disconnect'. Some countries have already brought in laws to enforce employees' right to disengage from work outside their contracted hours, including Ireland, France and Spain. While similar laws in the UK are currently not under consideration, the interest is growing rapidly.

But according to one poll by Wellbeing Partners, only 20 per cent of HR managers reported that their organisation had policies in place to stop or discourage after-work emails.

A spokesperson for Fasthosts said: "In the case of out-of-hours emails, all employers and team leaders need to play their part in discouraging this practice from continuing and introduce policies that help re-establish the lost boundaries between work and home.

"As working habits continue to shift and evolve, prioritising wellbeing will benefit your people, support their mental health and build a team who are happier and more engaged."