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U.S. NEWS Saturday 7 april 2018

Boss buzzing you after hours? NYC might let you say buzz off

By DEEPTI HAJELA The reality, though, is that
Associated Press the world has become a
NEW YORK (AP) — Technol- 24/7 place, and adhering
ogy that once promised to a policy like the one Es-
freedom from the confines pinal is proposing would be
of an office has, for many detrimental to a compa-
workers, become a ball ny's competitiveness, said
and chain, blurring the labor lawyer Louis DiLoren-
lines between work hours zo of Bond, Schoeneck &
and, well, any other hours. King, who has spent years
A New York City Council representing management
member wants to put a and employers.
stop to that. "The problems are going to
The proposal would bar be tremendous," DiLorenzo
employers from requiring said. "I just don't think you
employees to respond to can legislate against prog-
non-emergency emails, ress."
texts and other digital com- He also questioned how it
munications outside regu- would be enforced, and
lar work hours. It would also how an emergency would
outlaw retaliating against be defined.
workers who choose to un- "I can't think of a business
plug. that we represent that
The recently introduced there aren't times where a
legislation is only in the be- lot of people wouldn't think
ginning stages, with initial of them as emergencies,
committee hearings ex- but the client does," he
pected sometime in June, said.
and doubters wonder how David Weinman, president
it could work, especially in of Fabco Shoes, a chain of
always-buzzing New York more than 40 stores in New
City. York City and New Jersey
But bill sponsor Rafael Espi- In this Wednesday, April 4, 2018 photo, Arlene Pitterson poses for a photo in New York. that employs 190 people,
nal, a Democrat who rep- Associated Press sees the proposal it as gov-
resents parts of Brooklyn, ernment overreach.
said the legislation is need- go back to work and per- employees the right to ig- ting upset when she didn't "I think the city needs to get
ed because the city that form at their optimal level." nore off-hour communica- reply. out of everyone's hair," said
never sleeps isn't supposed The legislation would cover tions. It was among the condi- Weinman, 61. "Regulations
to be the city that never private companies with Employers who wanted to tions that led her to working are great when they don't
stops working. more than 10 employees. return a communication for herself, in which she now make everything you do
"Work has spilled into our There would be exemp- could do so. sets her own boundaries more complicated."
personal lives," he said. tions for certain types of "If you love your job and about when she'll respond He said he sends emails to
"We're always connected jobs that require people to you love what you're do- to people. employees on their off days
to our phones or to a com- be on call. Barring emer- ing, I highly doubt that you "The fact that we have to or outside of work hours,
puter once we leave the gencies, bosses wouldn't will stop working," Espinal get to a point where we but usually to make sure he
office." be able to demand that said. have a law about it is unfor- doesn't forget to send it at
It's important, he said, for workers check work emails The bill would be intended tunate, but it's necessary," a later time, and he's not
people to be "able to draw or messages in off hours. to make life better for peo- said Pitterson, 40. looking for responses when
a clear line between the Companies that violated ple like Arlene Pitterson, a "Technology has allowed they're not working.
workplace and their per- the rule would face fines of marketing and event plan- us to work from anywhere "I don't know anyone who
sonal lives, to give them at least $250 per incident. ning consultant in Brook- at any time," she said. "It's retaliates against employ-
time to connect with their Espinal said he was inspired lyn, who recalled one boss now about being able to ees because they don't an-
family, friends, reduce their by a French law that took routinely pestering her with control the instruments so swer emails," he said.
stress levels and be able to effect this year that gave late-night emails, then get- that we can still have a life." q