By: Natasha Archary
Not only do South Africans wake up earlier than the rest of the world, but they are clocking in more hours at the office too. That’s what Kaya Drive listeners testified to on the show on Wednesday.
Fatigued employees shared with Sizwe Dhlomo and team that their employers don’t have a cut-off time and expect them to work after office hours.
On Thursday, Portugal passed a law that ensures its citizens get the rest they need when they clock off from work.
Employers in Portugal will now be fined if they call or text their workers when they are not on the clock. According to The Mirror, employers can only contact workers outside of work hours in exceptional circumstances.
Many of the Kaya Drive listeners said the law should definitely be implemented in SA because they were running on fumes.
As it stands, South Africa has not yet expressly adopted a ‘right to disconnect’ but does have some laws in place.
Always online
The Covid-19 pandemic made remote working practical which meant employees were always online. In many ways this made businesses more efficient.
Passing a law like Portugal may not work for South Africa which is competing with developed countries.
The difficulty with the right to disconnect is the increasingly globalised nature of many jobs and businesses.
Media for example which is a 24/7 business, requires employees to work in excess of their contracted ordinary working hours for no additional remuneration.
South African employers should be more mindful that if the nature of a job requires availability after hours, such expectations should be stated formally as a part of an employee’s contractual obligations.
Are there times when you should avoid contacting your staff after hours?
Yes, there are rules and laws surrounding contacting your employees after hours. In general, you should avoid contacting your staff during the following:
- When they are on unpaid meal breaks
- When they are on vacation
- When they are on protected leave
Kaya Drive listeners share that their employers contact staff after hours:
-
play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Contacting employees after office hours Natasha
-
play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Contacting employees after office hours Natasha
-
play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Contacting employees after office hours Natasha
-
play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Contacting employees after office hours Natasha
-
play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Contacting employees after office hours Natasha
-
play_arrow
Kaya Drive: Contacting employees after office hours Natasha
