Before the pandemic, a small percentage of employees would still receive texts or phone calls from their bosses when they got home from work. However, since the MCO last year, many WFH employees have suffered mentally because they have to respond to text messages or phone calls whenever they work from home, lest their bosses wonder if they are really working from home. However, this has led to a blurring of the line between off-duty and on-duty. Sometimes they still receive text messages or phone calls at 10pm explaining their work.
On 5 November, Portugal’s parliament approved a new labour law that does not allow employers to contact employees outside of working hours, including sending emails, making phone calls or sending messages. According to the Press, this new measure aims to stop employers from disturbing employees during non-working hours.
The new labour law also states that companies should cover the cost of internet, electricity and gas for WFH employees working from home and provide them with some simple office equipment. In addition, employees with children can work from home until the child reaches the age of eight without prior approval from management.
As WFH has become the new norm, the new decree requires companies to arrange face-to-face meetings between employees and supervisors at least once every two months to prevent the isolation of working alone from home. This new decree aims to provide a healthy working environment for Portuguese citizens and to promote employees’ right to rest. However, the law does not apply to companies with less than 10 employees.
I am sure that many people would envy the Portuguese for the real work-life balance they have achieved.
