With recent legislation in some countries offering a "right to disconnect," and the federal government in Canada examining similar changes to labour standards, Robert Half Technology surveyed IT leaders and office workers to see if they could ignore their inboxes after hours. More than half (58 per cent) of technology leaders believe they could adhere to a ban on after-hours work emails, but 43 per cent of workers don't think their manager would follow the rule. In addition, nearly half (48 per cent) of workers said they would still be tempted to check emails after work.

"When we're in constant communication with our colleagues, it can be difficult to carve out much needed time to rest and reset between workdays," said Deborah Bottineau, district director for Robert Half Technology. "While some contact may be unavoidable, frequently responding to requests or emails after-hours can be a recipe for burnout, resulting in less productive, creative and engaged employees. Managers should encourage their staff to set defined 'off-hours' in order to recharge – and lead the way by doing the same."