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Last Updated on May 22, 2024 by BVN
Overview: California lawmakers have shelved a bill that would have given employees the right to avoid work-related text messages and emails outside of their work hours. The bill, modeled after a European work policy, aimed to promote a healthier work-life balance and support a workers’ right not to be accessible to their employers outside of their normal working hours. However, opponents of the legislation, including the California Chamber of Commerce, claim it could impede a company’s ability to operate with efficiency. The lines between home and work were blurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. This CA measure was one among dozens of potential laws set aside by legislators due to the state’s precarious budget shortfall.
Ellen Perrault
Until last week, California was potentially on track to act as forerunner for the nation on another workers’ rights initiative. That quest, however, was squashed on Thursday when state representatives shelved a bill intended to give employees the right to avoid work related text messages and emails outside of their work hours.
The initiative, apparently modeled after a European work policy would also have required employers to design implementation plans to facilitate compliance with the proposed standard.
In many European countries digital protections that once centered on employers have shifted to focus more on protections for workers, referred to as the “right to disconnect.” The goal is to promote a healthier work-life balance by supporting a workers’ rights not be accessible to their employers outside of their normal working hours.
Advocates of the California bill stated it would neutralize an expectation placed on workers who feel a need to be constantly accessible to their employers even outside working hours. It would accomplish this by setting clear work-related boundaries. Not surprisingly however, those who oppose the legislation–including the California Chamber of Commerce– claim it could impede a company’s ability to operate with efficiency.
The lines between home and work were blurred during the COVID-19 pandemic when working from home became the new norm.
This California measure was one among dozens of potential laws set aside by legislators last week due to the state’s precarious budget shortfall.
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