Portugal has become the world’s first country to ban employers from contacting their staff after working hours. All forms of contact are banned, including calling, messaging and texting, after work hours! This decision was taken to improve the work-life balance of employees since most employees are working from home.
The rule has certain limitations, this rule will not apply to companies that have more than ten staff members and they will have to pay fines if they violate their employees’ “right to rest”. According to the new law, “The employer must respect the privacy of the worker.”
Also, employers will have to compensate employees who are home-based for expenses suffered by telecommuting, such as electricity and internet bills. Along with this, employers are being forbidden from keeping an eye on their employees working from home.
