SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (D-San Francisco) AB 2751 (right to disconnect) is now one step closer to becoming law after passing out of the Assembly Labor Committee. It’s now headed to the Assembly Appropriations.
AB 2751, which guarantees California workers uninterrupted personal and family time by creating a “right-to-disconnect” from emails, texts, and calls after work hours. The bill mandates that all California employers create and publish company-wide action plans to implement the new right-to-disconnect laws as well as requiring that all employment contracts in the state clearly outline working and non-working hours. AB 2751 also empowers the California Labor Commissioner’s office to investigate and fine employers that exhibit a pattern of right-to-disconnect violations.
In the last 15 years, modern technology has fundamentally changed the nature of work by making all workers accessible to their employers 24 hours a day 7 days a week. First adopted in 2017 in France, right-to-disconnect laws have currently been enacted in thirteen countries including Australia, Argentina, Belgium, Columbia, Greece, Mexico, Portugal, Italy, and Spain. Studies have shown that workers with the right to disconnect are healthier, happier, and more productive.
“Work has changed drastically compared to what it was just 10 years ago. Smartphones have blurred the boundaries between work and home life,” said Assemblymember Haney. “Workers shouldn’t be punished for not being available 24/7 if they’re not being paid for 24 hours of work. 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.”
Ranking 53rd in the world for “work-life balance,” the majority of the United States workforce says they are overwhelmed by their jobs. Studies published in the Academy of Management Proceedings found that employees that are expected to respond during off-hours face “anticipatory stress” waiting for potential work communications. This constant connectivity and overwork can lead employees to experience burnout, having detrimental effects on one’s health according to a study published by Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law. In companies without the right to disconnect, workers reported health issues such as overall fatigue, stress, and anxiety. Unsurprisingly, workers in companies with right to disconnect policies have reported higher levels of job satisfaction and fewer health issues based on a study published by the European Union.
“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. Many of California’s larger employers are already abiding by right-to-disconnect laws in other countries and choosing to grow their companies rapidly in those places. They’re providing their French, Portuguese and Irish employees clear delineation between “work time” and “non-work time,” they’re just not doing that for Californians,” said Haney. “We’ve crafted it in a way that addresses the recent changes to work brought on by new technology, but to also be pro California business. California businesses will be more competitive for desperately needed workers as a result of this law.”
AB 2751 would reinforce California as one of the most forward thinking, advanced states for worker’s rights by allowing employees to be free from the pressures of constant workplace availability. In turn, California businesses will benefit from having more productive and healthier workers. If passed, California would be the first in the nation with a right to disconnect law.
“California’s greatest asset is our highly skilled workforce,” said Haney. “But we are in constant competition with other states like Texas and New York who are trying to woo California workers to their states. 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.”
Note – the bill passed out of committee in a 4-2 vote.
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