Ever had an annoying boss? Contacting employees outside of office hours has officially been deemed illegal behaviour in Portugal.
The new law was recently introduced banning all employers from contacting their staff outside regular working hours.
This includes all messages via phone, direct message, and email.
The law stipulates that “the employer must respect the privacy of the worker,” inclusive of rest periods and family time.
Should any violation of the law occur, the act will be considered a “serious” offence and warrant a consequential fine.
A similar law was instated in France in 2017, giving French workers the right to ignore after-hours business emails.
Working from home has become the world’s new normal and Portugal has developed regulatory legislation.
The new law forms a part of this legislation giving them the right to opt-out of working remotely.
However, if compatible with their working conditions and tasks, employees are able to request remote working conditions.
In Portugal, it’s now against the law for your boss to text you after work hours.
BRB, booking a flight. pic.twitter.com/93WR5PfZa0
— The Recount (@therecount) November 11, 2021
The new measure also suggests employers are responsible for aiding remote working and providing employees with the required tools to do so.
Any additional expenses, including gas and electricity bill increases, incurred from working at home should be reimbursed by the employer.
The law came into effect last Saturday after being approved by the Portuguese parliament a day prior.
The country has been run by Prime Minister Antonio Costa as part of a socialist government for the past 6 years.
This could however change early next year with a January 2022 snap election being called following a budget standoff.
🇵🇹 Portugal was plunged into a political crisis when MPs rejected the 2022 state budget proposed by Prime Minister António Costa. https://t.co/srHIcwjRQ3
— euronews (@euronews) November 4, 2021
Lisbon, the nation’s capital, has fought hard to appeal the initiatives allowing workers to take advantage of the remote work and relocate or travel outside their home country.
By the end of 2021 remote workers are set to make up 32% of the workforce. This is a significant increase from the pre covid figure of 17%.
