Keeping Work & Homelife Separate — Your Right to Disconnect

The rise of remote work has brought many benefits for employees, allowing for flexibility and a better work-life balance. However, it has also raised concerns about maintaining clear boundaries between work and home life. With the flexibility of working from home, many employees are finding it difficult to draw the line between when their workday ends and when personal time begins. As a remote employee, it’s crucial to know your workers’ rights and understand how to protect your work-life boundaries. This includes understanding whether you can be forced to work outside of office hours or fired for working remotely. If you believe your employer is violating your rights, a wrongful termination lawyer or workers’ rights lawyer can help you navigate these issues.

The Right to Disconnect: A Growing Concern

For remote workers, the right to disconnect has become an increasingly important issue. This concept refers to the ability to disengage from work during non-working hours, without the expectation of responding to emails, phone calls, or other work-related requests. Many remote employees struggle with the pressure to remain constantly available, even after hours, which can blur the lines between work and home life.

While the right to disconnect is a well-established principle in some countries, in the United States, employees don’t have a nationwide legal right to disconnect from work. However, there are protections in place that can help employees maintain work boundaries and prevent excessive demands from employers.

Remote Workers and Employees’ Rights

If you’re a remote worker, your employees’ rights should be respected, just like those of employees working in an office setting. That means your employer cannot force you to work outside of your agreed-upon hours without compensation or violate your contract hours. When you sign a contract with your employer, it should specify the expectations regarding your working hours, the tasks you’re responsible for, and whether you’ll be required to work beyond those hours.

While at-will employment allows employers to terminate employees for almost any reason, they cannot fire you for refusing to work beyond your contracted hours without just cause. If your employer threatens to terminate you for working remotely, you may have legal grounds for a wrongful termination lawsuit, especially if you have a working from home agreement in place.

Can Your Employer Force You to Work Outside of Office Hours?

One of the common questions that many remote workers have is: Can I be forced to work outside of office hours? While there is no federal law preventing employers from requesting that remote employees work outside of their regular hours, employers are typically required to compensate employees for any overtime work.

If you’re expected to work beyond your contract hours, your employer must either compensate you for the overtime or negotiate new terms for your employment. If an employer forces you to work additional hours without compensation or violates your work-life boundaries, you may be able to file a workers’ rights claim.

Employers must also respect work boundaries and not pressure you into working after hours. If you’re constantly receiving emails, messages, or requests during off-hours, it may be an indication that your employer is not respecting your time. If this pressure affects your well-being, it’s important to discuss the issue with your employer or consult with a workers’ rights lawyer to understand your legal options.

How to Set Work-Life Boundaries as a Remote Worker

Setting clear work-life boundaries is essential for maintaining a healthy balance while working remotely. Here are a few tips to help you manage your time and protect your personal life:

1. Set clear work hours: Make sure your employer knows when you’re available and when you’re not. Stick to those hours as much as possible.
2. Use separate spaces: If possible, create a dedicated workspace that’s separate from your living space to physically and mentally distinguish between work and home life.
3. Communicate with your employer: Set expectations with your employer about your availability and the times when you are off-duty.
4. Take breaks: Schedule regular breaks to prevent burnout and maintain productivity.
5. Know your rights: Familiarize yourself with your working from home agreements and the employees’ rights laws that protect your right to disconnect.

Know Your Rights

Remote work offers flexibility and freedom, but it also requires maintaining strong boundaries between work and home life. As a remote worker, it’s important to understand your workers’ rights and your contract hours to avoid being overburdened with work outside of your scheduled time. You should not be forced to work beyond your agreed-upon hours or terminated for choosing to work remotely, especially if you have an established working from home agreement.

If you’re feeling pressured to work beyond your contract or if you’ve been fired for working remotely, it’s crucial to seek legal counsel. A wrongful termination lawyer or workers’ rights lawyer can help you protect your job, uphold your rights, and ensure that your work-life boundaries are respected.

Call Us

We at Filippatos PLLC stand in proud solidarity with all employees. If you are experiencing discrimination, harassment or retaliation in the workplace, please give us a call at 888-9-JOBLAW for a free consultation. We will do our utmost to help secure you the justice you deserve.