The pandemic forced many organizations to adopt remote work, increasing the strain on employees trying to find the balance between work and home life. The line between home and office can easily become blurred. Some employees working from home find they are working longer hours, taking them away from much needed down time and the ability to ‘unplug’ at the end of the day.
The concept of the “right to disconnect” refers to the idea that employees have the right to disconnect from work-related electronic communications (such as emails, phone calls, and messages) outside of their regular working hours without facing negative consequences from their employers.
The purpose of implementing laws and guidelines related to the right to disconnect is to promote work-life balance and protect employees from burnout. These policies often aim to establish boundaries between work and personal life and prevent the expectation of constant availability. With organizations having adopted remote or hybrid workplaces following the pandemic, this policy is still very relevant.
In an effort to prioritize workers mental health during the pandemic, Ontario introduced the Right-to-Disconnect provision. As of June 2nd 2022, organizations with 25 or more employees (this is a total number of employees, not location specific) need to ensure they have a written policy in place that outlines employees disconnecting from their jobs at the end of the workday. With organizations having adopted remote or hybrid workplaces following the pandemic, this policy is still very relevant.
Our HR professionals at ThryvX recommend that all organizations, regardless of size, embrace and implement this new policy. It’s critical to your business’ growth and success for your employees to feel they can disconnect to be with friends and family when the workday is through. Professional burnout is very real and employees who feel they always have to be connected and ready to respond to emails or perform work activities after hours will eventually burn out.
For more information regarding the legislation please see the links below. If you require assistance writing your policy or understanding the legislation, please contact ThryvX at info@thryvx.com or call us at 416-473-5034.
Additional Information:
CBC News – Pandemic puts ‘right to disconnect’ in spotlight as provinces inch toward policies
Ontario Government Newsroom – Working for Workers Act, Background
Ontario Government Newsroom – Ontario Creating a Better Future for Worker
