Coming soon to Israel? A ban on contacting employees after working hours
Legislation in several countries prohibiting employers from contacting staff outside working hours raises the question of whether such norms will reach Israel. Constant digital availability is blurring the lines between work and leisure, contributing to employee burnout.
Legislation in countries like Portugal, which prohibits employers from contacting employees outside of working hours, raises the central question of whether such norms and laws will eventually reach the labor market in Israel. In an era where constant digital availability and network overload have become the standard, the boundaries between work and leisure are completely blurred, and messages in the evening hours have become an integral part of the daily routine of many employees. Dr. Liraz Margalit, a researcher of behavior in the digital age, spoke against the backdrop of the growing difficulty in creating a clear separation between home and professional demands:
"The issue of work-life balance is a significant issue."
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Messages and notifications that arrive on the mobile device during leisure time leave employees in a constant state of alertness and tension, which directly harms their mental health. As Dr. Margalit explains, the real difficulty is not necessarily in the effort invested during the workday itself, but in the inability to let go of tasks at its end:
"Psychology says that burnout is not that you are at work and not that you are working hard, but that you are unable to disconnect."
That prolonged state makes maintaining the balance between work and home a critical issue for preventing exhaustion and cumulative burnout.
In recent years, a deep and broad change in perception has been taking place among employees and especially among the younger generation. Social and national extreme events, including the coronavirus pandemic, the war period, and prolonged reserve duty, have led many to re-examine their personal priorities. The complex experiences on the ground and the long periods outside of routine have created a strong desire to set clear boundaries with employers, to preserve private time, and to demand real rest outside of working hours. This change in perception is reflected in the growing need to disconnect and experience freedom.
