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France implements 'right to disconnect' from work emails

News Desk (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta
Wed, January 4, 2017

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France implements 'right to disconnect' from work emails There are many studies on working outside working hours negatively impacting one's health. (Shutterstock/File)

France reportedly made a breakthrough in the working world by implementing "a right to disconnect" law starting Jan. 1.

As reported by kompas.com, this new law obliged employers to clearly state when their employees were allowed to not check their emails as part of their office regulations, such as after working hours or during holidays.

Those who supported the law said employees in this modern era were becoming stressed, suffered sleeping problems and other issues because of overtime work requirements without compensation. To stop this from happening, they said the government should take firm action.

(Read also: Business professionals facing more stress now than 5 years ago: Survey)

"All studies showed that there [is] far more work stress today compared to past years," Benoit Hamon, a socialist member of the French parliament, told the BBC, adding that employees physically left their offices but were actually not freeing themselves from their jobs.

Although Hamon did not mention any specific study, there are indeed many studies that found the negative effects of working outside working hours. Even simply checking office emails outside working hours could ruin your emotional health, said studies from the University of British Columbia and Colorado State University. (kes)

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