'Right to Disconnect' introduced as part of 2024 federal budget
Everyone needs some downtime; it is essential for well-being and mental health.
At least that’s what is written in the 2024 federal budget, which establishes a “Right to Disconnect.”
“One of the realities of life for all Canadians, but particularly for younger Canadians, is this experience of being always on, always available,” Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland told reporters Tuesday following the budget release. “It’s not healthy, it’s not a good way to live.”
Once implemented, the right would allow federally-regulated workers the right to not answer work-related calls or emails while away from work. The government says many Millennial and Gen Z workers have worked their whole careers without having a firm separation between jobs and personal time.
The 2024 budget says it will provide $4.2 million over the next five years to support the program to enable the Labour Program at Employment and Social Development Canada to implement legislative amendments to the Canada Labour Code.
The policy is expected to benefit upwards of 500,000 employees nationwide working in sectors such as finances, telecommunications, and transportation.
Digital anthropologist Giles Crouch notes France was the first country to implement legislation for a “right to disconnect” in 2017. Since then, other places around the globe have followed in the country’s footsteps, including Ontario in 2023. In that province, employers with more than 25 employees are required to create a written policy on disconnecting from work.
Crouch expects provinces will create their own “right to disconnect” policy following the federal budget.
Crouch says in the early days of email, immediately responding to messages became the social norm, which has only carried over with the introductions of smartphones and social media.
But regulating anything that relates to technology can be a challenge.
“You need to find that balance where an organization can still get done what it needs to get done and innovate and not have too many regulations, but at the same time we need to protect employees,” says Crouch. “If a culture says you’re going to always be available, it’s hard to say no to that.
“But if regulations are put in place, an employee can push back and say, ‘No, you know what, after 5 p.m. that’s it, I want family time, I want friends’ time.’”
“It is well intentioned,” says Gerald Walsh, a human resources consultant and expert on the “right to disconnect.” “If you’re a newer employee in an organization and trying to make a name for yourself, you might feel an obligation to be on call all the time so this would be some welcomed relief, particularity if you have an overpowering boss.”
He admits the idea could have some challenges, especially with so many people working from home, which can make planning meetings more difficult.
Not every job is a typical nine-to-five, meaning working hours can be blurred. Walsh says even in jobs where you are “always on,” you should not be expected to answer anything work related if you are not scheduled to be working.
“A good boss actually respects the right of their workers to not have to respond,” he says. “Except in the case of emergency, you should not have to respond right away so there is no expectation.”
Nigel Bone is a psychotherapist at Port City Counselling in Saint John. He says the “right to disconnect” will reduce burnout in employees, and relieve some anxiety for those worried about missing a work call or email while off the clock.
“I think that young folks nowadays in some ways work not harder but in harder conditions,” Bone says. “They continue to push themselves harder, try and earn stripes so there phone is always going off, they are answering emails after hours and I think it’s a hard thing to shut off.”
Bone is hopeful this is only the beginning for the new right.
“As time goes on I hope it’s applicable not just from a federal perspective but across the board and into different industries,” he says. “It would have to look different but I would like to see it work in things like healthcare as well.”
There is no timeline as to when the new right will be officially implemented by the federal government.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW 'She was waiting for you': The story of how a B.C. man found his birth mother in England
After his adopted parents died, Dave Rogers set out to learn more about his birth mother. DNA results and a little help from friendly strangers would put him on a path to a small town in England.
Macklem tries to stay out of the fray as MPs do their best to use him to score points
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem navigates a political minefield every time he testifies before the House of Commons finance committee.
Montreal man on the hook for thousands of dollars after a feature on his Tesla caused an accident
A Montreal man is warning Tesla drivers about using the Smart Summon feature after his vehicle hit another in a parking lot.
Israeli army tells Palestinians to evacuate parts of Gaza's Rafah ahead of an expected assault
The Israeli army on Monday ordered tens of thousands of Palestinians in Gaza's southern city of Rafah to start evacuating from the area, signalling that a long-promised ground invasion there could be imminent.
Actor Bernard Hill, of 'Titanic' and 'Lord of the Rings,' has died at 79
Actor Bernard Hill, who delivered a rousing cry before leading his people into battle in 'The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King' and went down with the ship as the captain in 'Titanic,' has died.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
A Holocaust survivor will mark that history differently after the horrors of Oct. 7
This year's Holocaust Remembrance Day, which begins on Sunday evening in Israel, carries a heavier weight than usual for many Jews around the world.
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.