The U.K. is considering joining a host of other European countries in making it more costly for restless employers to contact their employees after the working day ends.
The country’s fresh-faced Labour government is drafting legislation that would outlaw late-night WhatsApps, emails, and Slacks and potentially fine dissenting bosses heftily.
While commonplace across Europe, legislation giving workers a “right to disconnect” has lagged behind in the U.K., but now might become more European if reported changes to work culture are implemented.
I’ve no doubt a previous employer of mine would get us to sign a bit of paper saying we’re happy to be contacted outside of our working hours, and being told it’s mandatory to sign it.
In a lot of places that would let you claim overtime pay for all that time.
IMO it is perfectly fine to sign that right away, but that is then called on-call duty and requires extra compensation. And THAT is what most employers try to avoid.
If I could get back all the years of my life spent walking boomers through tech problems for free…
Hey, I got thanked and told I was worth a million bucks to the boss one time though. If I had a tail I might have wagged it. :/
Nice of them to document it!
For real an email saying “we plan on committing a crime” is bold
In Europe and the UK as well I think a signed document doesn’t nullify the law. So you can just sign that and the employer would still be at fault.