7 Countries Where It Is Illegal to Disturb Employees After Work

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Here are 7 countries that have implemented laws or regulations regarding the "right to disconnect":

France

[{"selector":"#anim-0b784cb6-1cbd-44da-8123-af78ca87df64","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Source: Canva In 2017, France became the first country to create a law giving workers the right to ignore work emails and messages after hours. This rule applies to companies with over 50 employees.

Italy

[{"selector":"#anim-3a097f36-46ae-4985-b352-9144d7580ea7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Source: Canva In 2021, Italy passed a law allowing employees to ignore work communications after work hours, so they can focus on their personal lives.

Belgium

[{"selector":"#anim-72c1af15-fa62-422b-8c8a-596cfd75c300","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Source: Canva Belgium started with a right to disconnect for government workers in 2018. It was so successful that in 2020, it was extended to private companies with more than 20 employees.

Spain

[{"selector":"#anim-1cf42642-ade2-4ec7-a064-38ad51a319df","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Source: Canva In 2021, Spain introduced a law that lets employees ignore work-related messages and calls outside their normal working hours.

Ireland

[{"selector":"#anim-5df35253-cf82-4611-967e-4533bfcb6c5a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Source: Canva Since 2018, Ireland has a law that helps employees take a break from work-related digital communication after working hours.

Portugal

[{"selector":"#anim-cc3067a7-a686-4f2b-8482-afef353a19ed","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Source: Canva In 2020, Portugal set up rules that stop companies with over 10 employees from contacting workers outside their regular work hours.

Australia

[{"selector":"#anim-64a0f746-6f9a-44d0-9025-036a1ce0a7be","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Source: Canva Australia is working on a law to stop employers from contacting their staff outside of working hours. This law would let employees ignore work emails, texts, and calls during their off-duty time without facing any consequences.