A California lawmaker wants you to be able to block your boss
The California legislature is considering a law that would guarantee workers the right to ignore calls, texts, emails, and Slack DMs from their employers after work hours.
It could be the US’s first “right to disconnect” law, and employers who violate it would be subject to a fine. The bill contains exceptions for emergencies and schedule changes less than 24 hours away.
As work has become increasingly remote, many countries have moved to protect workers from 9-to-5s becoming 9-to-forevers. France’s pioneering law on the matter went into effect in 2017. A handful of countries including Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and Italy have since followed suit.
A Pew study last year found that more than half of US workers respond to work messages outside of work hours.
As work has become increasingly remote, many countries have moved to protect workers from 9-to-5s becoming 9-to-forevers. France’s pioneering law on the matter went into effect in 2017. A handful of countries including Australia, Belgium, Ireland, and Italy have since followed suit.
A Pew study last year found that more than half of US workers respond to work messages outside of work hours.
