UK Recruitment Glossary
Right to Disconnect
In recruiter context
Not yet UK law (unlike France, Spain, and Ireland which have right-to-disconnect statutes). The 2024 UK government consultation proposed a statutory right with employer-specific implementation. Several large UK employers have introduced unilateral policies — Sky, Channel 4, Volkswagen UK, and others — typically banning expectation of response outside contracted hours. For job-seekers in 2026, asking about a company's policy on out-of-hours communication is increasingly normal. Where there's no policy, the practical default depends on culture: financial services and consulting expect availability; some growth-stage SaaS explicitly discourages it.
Related terms
Probation Period
An initial employment window (typically 3-6 months in the UK) where notice periods are shorter on bo…
Right to Work
Your legal eligibility to work in the UK — checked by every employer before you can start.
Furlough
A temporary leave of absence with reduced or zero pay, where the employee remains employed.
Hiring Manager
The person who has the open headcount and will be your future direct boss if you get the role.