The state of California has introduced yet another new bill. The Assembly Bill 2751, if passed, will give residents the “right to disconnect.”
The new law will ensure that California employees get the time off they deserve by protecting them from having to answer emails or phone calls when not at work.
The Details of Assembly Bill 2751
Assemblymember Matthew Haney, a Democrat of San Francisco, introduced the bill on February 15, 2024. The bill specifies that every company within California, big and small, public or private, will need to instate a policy that allows employees to turn off their devices or refuse to respond to emails or calls during their time off.
The bill stipulates that the policy can be created with the specific needs of the company and its employees in mind. However, once it’s in place, employees could complain to the California Labor Commission if they feel it has been broken. In that case, the company may need to pay a fine for breaking its own rules.
Are There Any Downsides to the Right to Disconnect Bill?
In theory, the bill protecting employees’ rights to disconnect sounds like a solid plan. However, some experts have noted that there could be a few downsides.
First and foremost, many worry that the bill could negatively affect small businesses that function with a much smaller staff. California resident Tony Richelle explained, “Small businesses could be hamstrung if an employee is not able to answer the phone or if an owner says, ‘I can’t call this person because I might get in trouble.’”
Assemblymember Haney Isn’t Worried About This Concern
However, Assemblymember Haney has reported that he and the others who worked on the bill already thought of this potential problem and made sure the bill allotted for it.
Haney said, “This bill has a lot of flexibility to make sure that it works for all California businesses and types of employment, including those sectors that may require on-call work or longer hours. [Businesses] just need to have a policy on it about when people are working and when they are not. It shouldn’t be that hard.”
Why Do Many Find This Bill a Necessity?
Although there may be a few issues to sort out before the bill is passed, the vast majority of local officials and California residents believe that it will be extremely beneficial. Some even say it’s now a necessity.
Thanks to technology, employees are now contactable at all times, but this isn’t necessarily a good thing. As Haney explained, “The problem right now is the murkiness and the gray area can lead people to feel that they need to be on 24/7.”
There’s No Doubt That Americans Are Burnt Out
Haney also said, “Work has changed drastically compared to what it was just 10 years ago. Smartphones have blurred the boundaries between work and home life. Workers shouldn’t be punished for not being available 24/7 if they’re not being paid for 24 hours of work.”
And there is no doubt that Americans are feeling exhausted by their work. According to Fortune, 82% of Americans are at risk of burnout this year, and many blame the fact that they can’t ever be completely “off work.”
The Younger Generations Are Prioritizing Work-Life Balance
While Baby Boomers and Gen Xers may have taken the modern, technology based workplace in stride and remained available night and day to their employers.
But the younger generations, the Gen Zers and the Millennials, want something different for their lives. They crave some semblance of work-life balance in which they can be fully present with their family and friends when they’re not at work.
Haney Says This Bill Is Good for California, Too
Assemblyman Haney argues that this new bill, if passed, will make millions of California residents infinitely happier. With a bit more balance and actual time away from work, residents of the Golden State can actually enjoy everything it has to offer.
He also says that making California employees more satisfied with their work and, consequently, their lives will benefit the state in a big way.
California Needs to Do What It Can to Stop the Mass Emigration
It’s no secret that hundreds of thousands of California residents have abandoned the state over the last few years. If the exodus continues in the same way as it has over the past couple of years, it will be extremely detrimental to the state’s economy.
While there were certainly a wide variety of reasons, including high taxes, horrific traffic, expensive rent, and an ever-increasing cost of living, with this bill, Haney hopes there will be one less.
California Needs Its Workforce
The Assemblyman said, “California’s greatest asset is our highly skilled workforce. But we are in constant competition with other states like Texas and New York who are trying to woo California workers to their states.”
He continued, “Giving our workers the right to disconnect will be a major benefit to our workforce and makes the California tech sector better able to compete for skilled workers.”
California Isn’t the First Government to Instate Such a Law
If the bill passes, California will be the first state to have any kind of “right to disconnect” law in place. However, it’s not the first government in the world to do so.
In fact, France was the first to do so, followed by 12 other countries, including Belgium, Colombia, Greece, Ireland, Mexico, Italy, Spain, Kenya, Australia, and Argentina.
Employees in Countries With Right to Disconnect Laws Are Happier
Haney’s office has reported that, according to their research, workers in countries with “right to disconnect” laws are “healthier, happier, and more productive.”
He and his team truly believe that this one law may be able to change the lives of California residents in a real and lasting way and, hopefully, save the state itself.
