The Minister of Labor believes that privacy must be respected, but a Norwegian expert is skeptical about introducing something similar here at home.
Are you demoted by your boss after working hours, receive text messages on the weekends or receive emails around the clock?
In Portugal, this is now illegal.
– It’s like they want us to move yours?
The country has introduced a new law that prohibits employers from contacting its employees after working hours.
This includes text messaging, phone calls and email communication.
– The employer must respect the privacy of the employee. This also applies to rest and family time, it is stated in the new law.
Violation of the law can lead to a fine for employers who are unable to refrain from calling employees when they are not at work.
The law, on the other hand, will only apply to companies with a minimum of ten employees.
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The Minister of Labor points to the new working day as one of the main reasons why the law is being introduced. The distinction between working hours and leisure time has been erased in the home office.
“The pandemic has accelerated the need to regulate what needs to be regulated,” said Portuguese Labor Minister Ana Mendes Godinho. Euronews.
In addition, the country is trying to attract digital nomads and believes this can contribute to an influx of foreign labor.
– We consider Portugal as one of the best places in the world to live for digital nomads and teleworkers. We want to attract them to Portugal, said the Minister of Labor.
France has a similar law that is often referred to as the “Right to Relax”. This law gives employees the freedom to choose whether they want to take work phones or answer emails when they have free time.
Although it is too early to assess how effective the law is in bringing in new labor, it at least creates enthusiasm on social media.
– With other news, I will move to Portugal, writes a Swedish citizen.
The popular remote worker @Levelsio writes to his 110,000 followers:
– It’s like they want us to move yours?
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– Back to the time clock
One who is not so impressed is the working life expert Trine Larsen in Hammer & Hanborg.
– It sounds quite “little in time” and very old-fashioned. Then we have to go back to the time clock, says Larsen to Nettavisen in a telephone conversation.
The headhunter points out that such laws can do more harm than good.
– When I recruit, it is often to special independent positions. In these positions, you can control working hours yourself. Here you are not so concerned with whether you spend four or eight hours on solving the tasks, as long as the work is done. Some tasks need to be done in the evening. This is where self-management comes in, Larsen points out.
– I have little support for laws and regulations. It is better to agree among themselves, she adds.
Prohibition is not the only way to set healthy boundaries. In Hammer & Hanborg, they have introduced internal rules of the game.
– An e-mail or a call on Teams must be answered within 24 hours. SMS and phone calls should be answered in less than an hour. We as a team have discussed this until now. We also agreed that you can send emails around the clock.
Larsen believes there are other discussions we must have.
– For example, we should talk about different phases in life. The morning meetings are a nightmare for all parents of young children. You must pick up the children no later than 1700. There are several practical challenges here, says Larsen.
– We must use this unique opportunity we have to find a better working life, not go back. That is what makes this situation we are in incredibly exciting, but also very difficult. I and most people I know are not as productive from eight to four every day. Some phases of life I am less productive than others. Maybe we can even increase productivity by working smarter?
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