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Article Title: Pushing Back Against After-Hours Work: Strategies for Employees
In today's fast-paced work environment, after-hours communication from employers has become a common occurrence for many. However, it's essential to know your rights and strategic ways to establish boundaries to protect your personal time. Here are some strategies that can help:
Know Your Legal Rights
In jurisdictions like Australia, businesses with 15 or more employees are required by law to have a right-to-disconnect policy. This means employees can legally ignore non-urgent work-related communication outside working hours. Employees should familiarise themselves with their local labor laws to understand their rights.
Clarify and Negotiate Boundaries
Employees should seek to establish clear guidelines on when and how after-hours contact will happen. For example, urgent issues should be clearly flagged, while emails can wait till the next working day. This negotiated agreement should be respected by both sides.
Review Your Employment Contract
Some jobs require after-hours availability, often compensated via salary or allowances. Employees should carefully check their contract or enterprise agreements to know if after-hours contact is expected and paid.
Use Company Policies to Your Advantage
If your workplace has updated right-to-disconnect policies, leverage them to pause notifications, delay responses, or formally set boundaries that are consistent with those policies.
Document and Communicate Clearly
Keep records of after-hours communication that violates agreed terms and discuss these in regular catch-ups or escalate to HR if necessary.
Forming a Union Can Help
Forming a union can help ensure the right to disconnect is clearly spelled out in a collective bargaining agreement. If passed, the proposed California law would impose a fine of at least $100 for violations.
Seek Legal Remedies
If your attempts to get compensated for after-hours work are unsuccessful, seek legal remedies. Government workers, like Lutnick, are excluded from federal labor law protections on overtime pay.
Look for Organizations that Respect Work/Life Balance
For many jobs in America, constant after-hours calls would raise red flags. If the constant after-hours calls are negatively affecting your personal, professional, or health, it may be time to consider leaving the current organization. Look for organizations that do not have a culture of constant after-hours work.
In Some Industries, Late-Emergency Calls are the Norm
Some industries, like politics and law, may have late-emergency calls as the norm. However, even in these industries, it's crucial to establish boundaries to maintain a healthy work/life balance.
Sources:
[1] Australian Human Rights Commission - Right to Disconnect
[2] Fair Work Ombudsman - Right to Disconnect
[3] California Labor Laws - After-Hours Work
- Establishing a healthy work/life balance is essential, even in industries like politics and law, where late-emergency calls are common.
- Mental health and workplace-wellness are interconnected, and constant after-hours calls can negatively impact both personal and professional well-being.
- Companies that respect health-and-wellness, including mental health, prioritize work/life balance by having clear right-to-disconnect policies and enforcing boundaries.
- In light of the growing emphasis on health and finance, it's essential for businesses to consider implementing right-to-disconnect policies, fostering a more productive and stable workforce.
