The European Parliament voted on Thursday to ask for consideration of new laws that make it illegal to punish employees who leave and do not respond to work after hours.
European workers have been working for many hours since the move to remote work was due to the coronavirus pandemic, Bloomberg reported. Thursday’s vote meant that European lawmakers want a rule to protect workers that allows them to stop work-related activities after hours without punishment.
“Do you have trouble hanging up in your spare time? Do you feel constant pressure to check and respond to work calls, emails, messages? ” Alex Agius Saliba, a center-left member of the European Parliament, said in a tweet on Thursday. “#Right for #connect it must be a fundamental right. “
Do you have trouble hanging up in your spare time? Do you feel constant pressure to check and respond to calls, emails, work messages? #Right for #connect it must be a fundamental right. @NicolasSchmitEU EU workers need a directive on the # R2D As soon as possible @TheProgressives https://t.co/ziZeRZYkRE
– Alex Agius Saliba (@alexagiussaliba) January 21, 2021
The vote was approved by a majority in Parliament, with 472 representatives supporting the proposal. The vote makes a non-binding appeal to the European Commission to place new rules for workers in European Union legislation.
However, this call for new rules to be established may take years to solidify. The commission must accept the summons, draft the legislation and be approved by the bloc’s legislative institutions.
Many around the world have struggled to balance domestic work with their families. Mental health concerns have flooded countries since millions of people have been on some blockade version since March.