While Americans are obsessed with checking their electronic devices virtually 24/7, viewing e-mails after hours, before they go to bed, and even on vacations, the French government has said “mais, non” to this practice with a new workplace rule that precludes employees reading work-related e-mails after work hours.
According to The Guardian and other media, French labor unions, that attained a 35-hour workweek several years ago, initiated negotiations with employer federations on the new rule, which affects over 250,000 workers in the tech, communications, and consulting industries (including social media), to insure that workers are not required to be connected to work electronically during nonworking hours.
The Guardian says the rule is aimed at ensuring that French workers have quality rest hours away from the job. While there is no set time in the rule for the turnoff, 6 p.m. has been frequently mentioned as a target.