No contact after work hours proposed in bill

Cagayan de Oro Rep. Rufus Rodriguez (File photo from his Facebook page)

MANILA, Philippines — Do you still receive calls, emails, and texts from your boss after you’re already relaxing from work?

Cagayan de Oro City Rep. Rufus Rodriguez wants to institutionalize an employee’s “right to disconnect” from office communications.

On Dec. 12 he filed House Bill No. 9735, which proposes to amend Presidential Decree No. 442, or the Labor Code, to include an employee’s right to disconnect after work hours.

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He said replying to messages or answering calls from employers “adds additional stress to employees and destroys their work-life balance.”

In France, “[a] law was designed to ensure respect for rest periods and balance between work, family and personal life,” Rodriguez said.

The proposed “right” will apply to private sector employees. But the bill says the employer “shall determine the conditions and exemptions, subject to rules and regulations that may be provided by the secretary of labor and employment.”

There is no similar proposal for government employees, who are covered by civil service regulations.

Under HB 9735, employees will not be subjected to any disciplinary action if they disregard communications after work hours.