Is California Leading the Way for Better Working Conditions

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A California legislator introduced bill AB 2751. Here is an excerpt from The National Law Review:

AB 2751 "requires a public or private employer to establish a workplace policy that provides employees the right to disconnect from communications from the employer during nonworking hours."

The bill would allow workers to disconnect from their jobs outside business hours. How is that going to work if the bill applies to all employees in California? It would add additional problems to restaurant owners who now have to pay fast-food restaurant employees $20 an hour.

Now, the $20 per hour employees can completely ignore their boss to go to work to cover a shift because another worker called in sick. Effective April 1st, some restaurant owners in the fast-food industry must pay their employees a minimum wage of $20 per hour.

What about police officers, firefighters, paramedics, EMTs, and other professionals in the medical health service industry?

If the political landscape from the previous national election is any indication, many states will follow California's lead while many will not.

Employers care if their workers show up to work. Imagine an EMT or paramedic who refuses to go to work to cover a coworker who called in sick. Unions already have worker contracts in place that address working conditions. Will AB 2751 replace some existing union contracts?

"I'm sorry. It's my day off. I can't come to work."

Workers already at work will have to cover workers who call in sick and those who refuse to go to work. AB 2751 can work for some jobs, but it would disrupt many public and private companies.

Final Thoughts

If AB 2751 becomes law, it will create more problems than help workers. California is leading the way for the workplace for the rest of the country, and any state is willing to follow its lead.

AB 2751 is a terrible idea.