Posted on 04/02/2024 11:37:17 AM PDT by ChicagoConservative27
Yep. The internet and cellphones started it all. 24/7 connectivity and global teams.
I basically set boundaries. You can expect me to be available during business hours, I can push those boundaries earlier or later *infrequently*, or for brief periods. That said, DO NOT expect me to be available between 9pm and 7am.
I’m old enough to remember, when 5pm came and people weren’t in their office, next to their work phone (landline), the day was finished. That model doesn’t exist now.
That said, I don’t want regulation - it’s between me and my employer.
This isn’t a new concept; Western European countries were in the news years ago for doing this. While many here say they disconnect, it isn’t easy - and I only find myself able to do so because people pulling in much more money flaunt their unavailability.
I’ve noticed younger workers (good workers) make sure to indicate when they are on vacation, they don’t have access to email or voicemail. Good for them for setting the tone early; with tight-fisted companies, it certainly is easier.
Which is good. When I’ve gotten calls from work (maybe once every 3 years) my boss spends more time apologizing for bothering me than the actual question and answer.
BUT just because some bosses don’t abuse doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty that do. And again from what I hear out in the world the WFH era seems to have increased this. Bosses seem to be thinking that since you’re working from home ANYWAY what’s wrong with asking you to reply to an email at 8PM? Frequently. That’s not a good trend. It’s demanding more loyalty from the employee than the company gives, which is always bad.
I don’t want regulation. But when the more powerful side regularly abuses that power, regulation is what happens. Whatever inconvenience this brings to companies they brought it on themselves.
California has been working overtime to create new liabilities for, and causes of action against employers for a long time, but it really accelerated with the coof. No state has done more to destroy independent small and mid-sized businesses than California, and this is only the latest example.
Big corporations will be able to implement technical solutions to avoid the inevitable litigation abuses that will seek to leverage this law, while startups and smaller companies will be put under further financial and “management attention” stress. This can’t be an accident, it’s part of the plan. The big corporations, and the establishment pols always benefit, and the independent voices, independent workers, and creative entrepreneurs get silenced and driven out.
right...but we are still asking for a law to regulate that...as distasteful as that is.
Like you, I'm not a big fan of legislation to rectify this issue. But I think it may be an appropriate law that an employee could bring up to HR. With a copy of a text message/email/phone log after hours, you could submit it to payroll and they'll have to give you overtime pay for work performed after hours.
You will see an effect of the law immediately and all the employers will start to respect their employees' time after work.
Possibly, but employers don't have the right to substitute "servant" for "employee" and how does anyone know the employee wasn't coerced into saying that they want to conduct business 24/7?
The employer is gaining the upper hand so regulation may be necessary.
My place of work had a voluntary call in list that they would use to call somebody in on their day off. They said no, they just went down another name.
If your employer ‘suddenly’ requires 24/7 then it’s renegotiation time. Otherwise, time to move on.
That sucks! But you gotta go. One time my wife and I were with another couple at a New Years Eve concert, watching a few bands at the Oakland Coliseum. Right in the middle of Tower of Power performing, I got a page. Had to ask my friends to cut the concert short so I could be driven back to San Francisco to respond. I was responsible for fixing the Hall of Justice mainframe and getting it back online for the police department. Emergency Services and police waiting for the fix. A glitch caused by the date change to the new year. Wife understood my situation, I felt bad for our companions.
He worked the problem in ten minutes so it wasn’t nearly the bad deal you had.
Exactly. When I’m done working for the day or for the weekend, the “OFF” button is pressed on the laptop and work phone. I don’t need the government to establish that.
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