California Bill Could Allow Workers To Ignore Employers During Off-Hours
Workers would not be obligated to answer phone calls or emails beyond a designated period, and the state's labor commission would possess the authority to penalize employers for encroaching upon their employees' personal time, thanks to a new bill.
A fresh legislation seeks to enhance work-life equilibrium for Californians by limiting employer communications during off-duty periods.
Dubbed as "right to disconnect" laws, similar initiatives have garnered attention internationally. If enacted, California would pioneer such regulations within the United States.
Assemblymember Matt Haney of San Francisco proposed the bill, which mandates clearer delineation of employee "compensated" hours by California companies.
Consequently, employees would not be obliged to engage with calls, texts, or emails beyond a defined timeframe — an adjustment embraced by remote workers including Rob Hayes.
"It feels like I have to set my phone on silent certain times, not open up my computer certain times. If I don't right now I kind of feel like I would be left behind or not seen as someone who works hard, so I think it's really beneficial," stated the resident of Solano County.
Professor Amira Barger, an expert in management, asserts that the bill tackles issues of workplace equity, emphasizing that the state's labor commission would possess the authority to probe and penalize employers for encroaching upon employees' personal time.
"We are dealing with an epidemic of burnout and that's part of how we got here," the Cal State East Bay professor said. "This is a necessary adaptation as we look towards the future of work. Employees are demanding more of employers and they are demanding a new value proposition of what work looks like."
