[JURIST] Starting on January 1, 2017 French companies will be required to guarantee employees a “right to disconnect” from technology, in an effort to combat the “always-on” mentality pervading our modern workforce. The new law will require [NPR report] companies to engage in negotiations with employees determining their rights to switch off and ways they can reduce the intrusion of work into their private lives. In the case that negotiations are unsuccessful, the company is to publish its own standards. Some companies such as Renault and Axa France have already taken steps to protect the “work life balance.” In an interview with French newspaper Liberation, Axa France discussed how they had already limited hours in which meetings could be held [Liberation report, in French] and attempted to reduce the influx of communications after hours. They prioritized verbal communication and limited emails on the weekends. This move has been praised and it is hoped that in addition to relieving stress, it will encourage open communication about expectations between employees and their employers.

Employment issues have been at a hot topic worldwide. The US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit last month upheld [JURIST report] a Kentucky county’s “right-to-work” ordinance. The court ruled Hardin County was not preempted by federal labor law, particularly section 4(b) of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), from banning agreements between workers and unions requiring workers to join a union, a move which many believe will result in the proliferation of similar local-level laws restricting the role of labor union’s in the workplace. Currently, 25 states have right-to-work laws [JURIST backgrounder]. The US Supreme Court heard oral arguments [JURIST report] in January on the First Amendment rights of public teachers who do not wish to pay union fees. The Supreme Court split 4-4 in the case, defaulting to affirming the lower court decision, though the teachers have expressed interest in having the case reheard after the ninth justice is seated. Last year the Wisconsin Senate approved [JURIST report] Senate Bill 44, which provides that employees cannot be required to join a labor organizations.