Current work culture often expects employees to work long hours or be available outside typical business hours. “Grind culture,” as it’s often called, has become increasingly unpopular, with many workers pushing for more boundaries when it comes to work. California made headlines this past March when its leaders made headlines for their support for a 32-hour workweek bill in March. Now, the Golden State is leading another work-life balance conversation with the introduction of the “right to disconnect.”
Enter Assembly Bill 2751 (AB 2751), a new bill led by one of San Francisco’s Assembly Member Matt Haney. The bill seeks to safeguard employees’ personal time: the right to disconnect from work-related communications after hours, including email, text, and calls. If passed, AB 2751 would make California the first state in the U.S. to recognize an employee’s “right to disconnect.” With cell phones and messaging platforms such as Slack and Teams, employees have become increasingly reachable.
“Work has changed drastically compared to what it was just 10 years ago. Smartphones have blurred the boundaries between work and home life,” Haney said in a statement to Gizmodo.
“Workers shouldn’t be punished for not being available 24/7 if they’re not being paid for 24 hours of work,” Haney continued. “People have to be able to spend time with their families without being constantly interrupted at the dinner table or their kids’ birthday party, worried about their phones and responding to work.”
Globally, the principle of the “right to disconnect” was first established in France in 2017. Following France’s lead, 12 countries, including Spain, Belgium, and Australia, have implemented similar policies to protect employees’ downtime.
The introduction of AB 2751 by San Francisco’s Assemblymember Matt Haney and the state’s recent decision to raise the minimum wage to $20 an hour marks a critical period in California’s attitude and approach towards labor policies. For now, the future of the proposal will be under review with the Assembly Labor Committee.
By Catherine Huynh and Dana Flynn