By Junex Doronio
MANILA — Citing studies that the anticipatory stress and expectation of answering after-hours e-mails is draining employees, leading to “burnout” or physical, psychological, and emotional distress, Cagayan de Oro Representative Rufus Rodriguez has filed a bill granting employees the right to disconnect from work, including responding to offline and online communications after work hours.
Rodriguez, president of the Centrist Democratic Party (CDP), also noted that in France there’s a labor law that grants employees the right to disconnect from email, smartphones, and other electronic leashes once their working day has ended to ensure respect for rest periods and balance between work, family, and personal lives.
A country in Europe, France is considered one of the seven most significant economies in the world.
“Advances in technology have made it easier for people to work and conduct business. Everyone is getting more and more connected it is also easier to reach anyone at any given time. However, problems arise in such a way that employees work even beyond the normal working hours (i.e. replying to emails, replying to messages on their phones, answering calls, among others),” Rodriguez said in the explanatory note of his House Bill 9375.
Under the bill proposed by Rodriguez, an employee should not be reprimanded, punished, or otherwise subjected to disciplinary action if he or she disregards a work-related communication sent after work hours.
This provision, however, is subject to the terms and conditions of the policy to be established by the employer.
Further, House Bill 9375 provides that rest periods of short duration during working hours shall be counted as hours worked.
(ai/mnm)
