This New Employment Law Will Make You Want to Move to France

If you’re a millennial in the city, odds are you’re not working an outdated nine-to-five. Whether you’re working remotely, freelancing or quitting your day job to pursue a side hustle, the days of job security and benefits have definitely given way to flexible schedules and creative control. But unfortunately, this change in work culture also means that most millennials are stuck working unpaid overtime. You know all those times you check your work emails at night or draft up a proposal on the train into the office? Yeah, you should probably be paid for that.

Thanks to a new employment law passed by French officials, Parisians don’t have to worry about this for much longer. Long known as the country that started the amazing 35-hour work week, the French government just passed a new piece of legislature that will essentially give employees the right to NOT answer work emails after hours.

Touted as the “right to disconnect,” this new law will force organizations with more than 50 employees to negotiate their workers’ rights to unplug from their work responsibilities after hours. If a negotiation isn’t met, the company will have to publish a charter detailing what they expect of their employees after hours — AKA, you’ll know if you’re expected to give up your weekends before you get hired. Although there seems to be no disciplinary measures in place for companies who fail to comply with the law, we can’t help but see this as a win.

Now, if only our US officials could hurry up and put this into law… merci!

Do you frequently check work email after hours? Tweet us what you think about this new law @BritandCo!

(Photos via Getty)