Why you can, and should, ignore that 9pm email from your boss

Back in 2017, when France rolled it out the world’s first “right to disconnect” law — making it illegal for the boss to email workers after hours — Americans responded the way we always do when the French do something cool: Shake our heads at how soft they are while secretly wishing we could do the same thing. (See also: drinking wine at lunch, retiring at 62, national health care.)

Back in 2017, when France rolled it out the world’s first “right to disconnect” law — making it illegal for the boss to email workers after hours — Americans responded the way we always do when the French do something cool: Shake our heads at how soft they are while secretly wishing we could do the same thing. (See also: drinking wine at lunch, retiring at 62, national health care.) Americans are tough, in so many ways. But when it comes to work, we can be downright tyrannical on ourselves and one another. Work is part of our identity here in a way that people from other countries find at turns fascinating and pathological. We may be a little broken. But we are getting better. No, really! Hear me out … There was a time not too long ago when the California legislation, introduced on Monday, April 1, might have been easily mistaken for an April Fool’s joke. It is no joke (though it is also highly unlikely to become law.) The bill would aim to ensure that people aren’t pinged with work emails, texts or calls outside their established work hours, with notable exceptions for emergencies or scheduling issues. “Work has changed drastically compared to what it was just 10 years ago,” said Matt Haney, the State Assembly member who introduced the bill, in a statement. “Workers shouldn’t be punished for not being available 24/7 if they’re not being paid for 24 hours of work.”