Protect Our Right to Disconnect: Pass the Workplace Employee Boundaries Act

Protect Our Right to Disconnect: Pass the Workplace Employee Boundaries Act The modern workplace has slowly crept past the factory gates and office doors, invading the one sanctuary Michigan workers have left: their personal time. With the rise of smartphones, our citizens are subjected to an "always on" culture where a late-night email or weekend text carries the unspoken threat of workplace retaliation if ignored. It is time to put people first by passing the Workplace Employee Boundaries Act (Senate Bill 948). This legislation is a vital shield for fairness and employee well-being. By legally prohibiting employers from demanding off-clock communication—and backing it up with a $500 penalty per violation—you will ensure that a worker’s time with family, rest, and personal life remain truly theirs. While business groups raise concerns over operational disruption, the bill thoughtfully protects flexibility through commonsense exemptions for official on-call staff and government emergencies. Michigan workers are the backbone of our state, and being perpetually accessible without compensation is time theft. Please support Senate Bill 948 to restore healthy boundaries and protect Michiganders' hard-earned right to their own time to truly disconnect.