The Rolodex. Fax machines. The watercooler.  Icons and increasingly relics of ‘the office’ that are no longer relevant in the modern workplace. Mobile technologies, such as smartphones, tablets, and laptops have dissolved the physical and metaphoric walls of the office, allowing us to be connect and communicate from anywhere at any time.

However, these technologies that allow us to be connected around the clock every day of the week have blurred the boundary between personal and work time. More than that, it has seen employees more frequently responding to emails or answering calls on weekends, evenings, and even while on vacation.

To help foster a better work-life balance for employees, the Ontario government recently passed Bill 27: Working for Workers Act, 2021 (the “Act”) which came into force on December 2, 2021. A central element of this legislation gives employees in Ontario the right-to-disconnect from work. The Act requires that eligible employers create policies around employees’ rights, specifically protecting the rights of employees to not engage in work-related communications, including emails, telephone calls, video calls or the sending or reviewing of other messages, so as to be free from the performance of work” outside of working hours.

To better understand the new legislation, the potential need for a “Right to Disconnect” policy for your organization, and further considerations, read Will and Lauren’s latest blog here.

Sport Law has been providing strategic insight to the Canadian sport community since 1992. We are accessible, affordable, and highly skilled, bringing unparalleled experience and common sense to every project. 

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If you have any questions about a Right to Disconnect policy, please contact Will Russell at wrussell@sportlaw.ca. If you are looking to implement cultural change, please contact Lauren Brett at llb@sportlaw.ca