The boss is calling late. Should the law let you ignore it?

Montgomery Street in San Francisco on Dec 5, 2023. Proposed legislation would make California the first state to give employees the legal right to hit the ignore button on their phones when the boss calls after hours. — The New York Times

SAN FRANCISCO: Few places have done more than the Bay Area – the centre of the smartphone industry – to ensure that bosses can call, text or Slack their workers all the time, nights and weekends included.

But a San Francisco lawmaker wants to help curb the constant ringing and pinging that his region helped create. New legislation from Assembly member Matt Haney would make his state the first in the country to give employees the legal right to hit the ignore button on their phones when the boss calls after hours. Emails, texts and other work communication could also be put off until workers are back on the clock.