Canada Takes a Step Towards Balancing Work and Life: Proposed Law to Protect ‘Right to Disconnect’

In Canada, a new law is being proposed to enshrine the “right to disconnect” in the budget for 2024. This law will allow employees to avoid work-related tasks outside of office hours. However, it will only apply to about 500,000 Canadian workers in public sectors like banking and transportation. Most workers in Canada are employed by provincially regulated industries and will not be affected by this federal legislation.

This move is part of a global trend to regulate labor laws in the era of remote work. Countries like the European Union have already signed treaties to protect the rights of home workers, with laws in place in several countries on the continent. Similar legislation is also being considered in the US, Germany, and Portugal.

In Ontario, a similar provincial law already requires employers to create policies for working outside of regular hours. This legislation is part of a broader effort in Canada to support millennial and Generation Z workers, with measures aimed at improving work-life balance and reducing burnout.

Israel has not yet addressed the issue of the right to disconnect through its labor laws. While there have been discussions about updating labor laws to reflect the digital age, no concrete steps have been taken by the legislator. Unlike Canada, where efforts are being made to adapt labor laws for younger workers, Israel has not yet taken a proactive approach to address the changing nature of work. The lack of legislative action means that workers are still facing challenges related to work-life balance and burnout.

The concept of the right to disconnect is gaining attention globally as countries work to find a balance between work and personal time for employees. As the nature of work continues to evolve, it is essential for labor laws