Welcome back to our “cross-border perspectives” series, where we compare employment law and practice from an international perspective, drawing on the experience of local and international employment lawyers who deal with...more
Our International Practice Group thought leaders have pulled together their top predictions for the new year so that employers can get a running start to 2025....more
As more countries implement “right to disconnect” laws, the landscape of employment practices is shifting – and U.S. employers may not be far behind. In today’s fast-paced work culture, constant connectivity is common but not...more
The right to disconnect has been in the media a lot. But if we look behind the headlines, what impact is it actually going to have? ...more
The line between ‘work’ and ‘home’ has historically been clear for most employees – separated by a distinct office building, worksite, or retail space. Technology has blurred this line in the past few decades and, for some...more
Real World Impact: U.S. employers should be aware of the global trend of “right to disconnect” laws and should review their policies on after-hours communications to stay ahead of social and legal changes....more
California once again is at the forefront of the expansion of workplace rights with a first-of-its-kind proposed legislation in the United States that would provide workers with the freedom and the right to disconnect from...more
The Proposed Law - On 15 February 2024, Assemblymember Matt Haney introduced Assembly Bill (AB) 2751—Employer Communications During Nonworking Hours. AB 2751 would cement an employee’s right to ignore communications from...more
California is considering broad legislation that would grant nearly all employees the right to disconnect from their employers during nonworking hours. If passed, the bill would be the first of its kind in the United States –...more
With the sweeping presence of technology today, the boundary between work life and home life has become increasingly blurred. A new bill recently introduced to the California legislature seeks to change that by protecting...more
California Assembly member Matt Haney has introduced the first “right to disconnect” law in the United States, Assembly Bill 2751 (A.B. 2751). Under the proposed legislation, employers would be required to define employees'...more
We have all faced situations where a manager, coworker, or client calls or emails seeking a response outside of normal work hours. While most of us view these interruptions as an unavoidable result of technological progress,...more
It’s 7:30 PM on a Thursday night and you check your phone after finishing dinner – and you see a business emergency starting to brew. You could use some help from your team tonight to gear up for what is bound to be a crazy...more
Australia’s Senate on Thursday, February 8, 2024, passed a bill that would prevent an employer from contacting employees outside of work hours. The bill gives the employee the right to refuse to monitor, read or respond to...more
Kenya has taken a significant step in addressing the balance between work and personal life by introducing a “right to disconnect” law. The Employment (Amendment) Bill 2022, which is pending before the Kenyan Senate, would...more
A recent employment tribunal case, Alsnih v. Al Quds Al-Arabi Publishing & Advertising, ruled that a journalist was unfairly dismissed for refusing to install a work-related app on her personal phone. The app was considered...more
Since 1 April 2023, Belgian employers in the private sector with 20 employees or more must include the right to disconnect in collective bargaining agreements or work rules. The right to disconnect applies to all categories...more
Employers in Luxembourg must now consult with their employees and trade unions to set up systems to protect employees’ rights to disconnect. A new law has been passed in Luxembourg, which requires employers to put...more
The pandemic has changed the landscape of an employee’s work life in its entirety. Employees were uprooted from their normal routines and required to work from their homes. The result? Growing concerns regarding burnout and a...more
En novembre 2021, l’Ontario a adopté une loi sur la déconnexion du travail dans le but de veiller à ce que les employés aient suffisamment de temps en dehors du travail, surtout à la suite de la pandémie de COVID-19, laquelle...more
In November 2021, Ontario passed legislation on disconnecting from work (DFW). The goal of the legislation is to ensure employees have adequate time away from work, particularly in light of the blurring of work and personal...more
Further to our previous article, the Working for the Workers Act, 2021 (the "Act") received Royal Assent on December 3, 2021. The Act amended the Employment Standards Act, 2000 ("ESA") and requires employers to develop a...more
The "right to disconnect" refers to an employee's ability to not engage in work-related communications (emails, texts, telephone calls, video calls, etc.) while off duty....more
We have seen the benefits of technology in keeping us connected in the new remote working environment and the flexibility that it provides, but how does this impact employees’ ability to disconnect from their work?...more
In today’s business climate, work always seems to be on the mind. But should it be? According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the productivity of the average American worker has skyrocketed by an astounding 400% since...more