Our corporate policy is that any company communication received outside normal working hours can safely be ignored until the next working day. I encourage employees to turn off their email and phones outside of work. I do require a personal contact information in case of genuine emergencies but this is rarely (if ever) used. Regular downtime is important for mental health. The way I view it, if an employer needs to contact people outside of work hours, it’s a failure of management and proper planning.
Nonetheless, this is an extraordinarily stupid bill. If passed, I hope the exodus of companies drives the California economy into the ground.
> Nonetheless, this is an extraordinarily stupid bill.
Wow, that escalated quickly.
So you think that a law that is supposed to enforce an idea that you and your company already practice (but sadly many, many do not)... is stupid? What a bizarre take.
> If passed, I hope the exodus of companies drives the California economy into the ground.
I think CA's experience enacting many of the best worker protections in the US suggests this won't harm our economy in the slightest.
This is the law in many parts of the world, and their economies seem to have not collapsed.
Haney thinks the bill is already being misconstrued and said that it would only require that companies be transparent about their expectations for working hours. Employers would still have the freedom to dictate their policy, which could include that employees be available around-the-clock, he said.
If that clause is true, then there is no point. All an employer has to do is insert a boilerplate phrase in the offer letter to the effect that the employer reserves the right to contact salaried employees outside normal working hours. Done deal. This bill is totally for show.
Certainly some prospective employees won't have the freedom to pick and choose, but at least then it's there up front, and I can decline to work for such places.
I mean, really. Like, I would be annoyed at -- but sympathetic toward -- a company that has a reasonable work-hours policy but isn't 100% perfect at adhering to it. But a company that -- by stated policy -- says "all your time is ours and you get none for yourself"? No thanks, would never work for you.
Nonetheless, this is an extraordinarily stupid bill. If passed, I hope the exodus of companies drives the California economy into the ground.