Could work emails be banned after 6pm?

janusz · 11 Apr 2014, 02:13 AM

Quote:

France has brought in rules to protect employees from work email disturbing them outside office hours. Would a law to this effect be feasible elsewhere?

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26958079

Greensky · 12 Apr 2014, 04:33 PM

There were apparently precedents in Germany.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/wo...&nlid=60473860

The debate is interesting too. With emails being accessible from a mobile phone or an electronic pad, there can be a legitimate concern that work could invade private or family life.

randian · 13 Apr 2014, 07:11 AM

I don't see how this requires a legal response. Ignore work emails if you must.

janusz · 13 Apr 2014, 06:19 PM

A legal framework would protect you from a charge of neglecting business matters if an email were sent in the evening and ignored till the next morning...

FredOnline · 13 Apr 2014, 06:50 PM

In these times, when it's even frowned upon if you take your FULL lunch break away from your desk (it happens where I work), it can be difficult to resist the 24/7 work culture - especially when some workaholic colleagues embrace it.

Google has my cellphone number, but my employer doesn't.

webecedarian · 21 Apr 2014, 06:51 AM

Problematic to enforce. But what would be a fun solution would be to require a calculation of overtime payment. You'd better believe that companies would try to nip off-hours emailing in the bud if it was starting to cost them a lot of extra money.

Cory · 21 Apr 2014, 11:35 AM

When the government gives furlough days to employees around here (in Florida) its actually illegal for employees to check their work emails outside of their paid hours during the week of the furlough day. Its illegal to do any work outside of the work hours during that time period actually.

n5bb · 21 Apr 2014, 11:56 AM

In the US this isn't just for government employee furloughs. An exempt (salaried) employee of any company who is furloughed is expected to not check email or do any other work-related chores while on furlough. I have been through some of these in the last few years. See:
http://topics.hrhero.com/furloughs-for-employees/#

Bill

Cory · 21 Apr 2014, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5bb

In the US this isn't just for government employee furloughs. An exempt (salaried) employee of any company who is furloughed is expected to not check email or do any other work-related chores while on furlough. I have been through some of these in the last few years. See:
http://topics.hrhero.com/furloughs-for-employees/#

Bill

Makes sense, thanks for the info

.

21 Apr 2014, 11:56 AM	#8
n5bb Intergalactic Postmaster Join Date: May 2004 Location: Irving, Texas Posts: 8,929	No email during furloughs In the US this isn't just for government employee furloughs. An exempt (salaried) employee of any company who is furloughed is expected to not check email or do any other work-related chores while on furlough. I have been through some of these in the last few years. See: http://topics.hrhero.com/furloughs-for-employees/# Bill

12 Apr 2014, 04:33 PM	#2
Greensky Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Paris, France Posts: 59	There were apparently precedents in Germany. http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/12/wo...&nlid=60473860 The debate is interesting too. With emails being accessible from a mobile phone or an electronic pad, there can be a legitimate concern that work could invade private or family life.

13 Apr 2014, 07:11 AM	#3
randian Cornerstone of the Community Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 561	I don't see how this requires a legal response. Ignore work emails if you must.

13 Apr 2014, 06:19 PM	#4
janusz The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: EU Posts: 4,945	A legal framework would protect you from a charge of neglecting business matters if an email were sent in the evening and ignored till the next morning...

13 Apr 2014, 06:50 PM	#5
FredOnline The "e" in e-mail Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Manchester UK Posts: 2,616	In these times, when it's even frowned upon if you take your FULL lunch break away from your desk (it happens where I work), it can be difficult to resist the 24/7 work culture - especially when some workaholic colleagues embrace it. Google has my cellphone number, but my employer doesn't.

21 Apr 2014, 06:51 AM	#6
webecedarian Essential Contributor Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NYC Posts: 483	Problematic to enforce. But what would be a fun solution would be to require a calculation of overtime payment. You'd better believe that companies would try to nip off-hours emailing in the bud if it was starting to cost them a lot of extra money.

21 Apr 2014, 11:35 AM	#7
Cory Essential Contributor Join Date: May 2012 Posts: 459	When the government gives furlough days to employees around here (in Florida) its actually illegal for employees to check their work emails outside of their paid hours during the week of the furlough day. Its illegal to do any work outside of the work hours during that time period actually.