French government officials are combating digital burnout in employees by introducing a ‘disconnection clause’ which classifies hours where staff cannot send or respond to emails.
Part of a new labour law, named after labour minister Maryam El Khomri, the disconnection clause requires organisations with more than 50 staff to draw up a charter of good conduct.
This lays out the hours when employees are not supposed to send or answer emails, usually in the evenings or at the weekend. There is currently no penalty for violating the set email hours.
The measure is currently being voted through by President Francois Hollande’s Socialist party, who say that the problem of permanent connection is universal and growing, blurring the boundaries between home life and the workspace.
Benoit Hamon, Socialist MP, says: “All the studies show there is far more work-related stress today than there used to be, and that the stress is constant. Employees physically leave the office, but they do not leave their work. They remain attached by a kind of electronic leash – like a dog. The texts, the messages, the emails – they colonise the life of the individual to the point where he or she eventually breaks down.”
