PORTUGAL (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Portugal's parliament has passed a new law forbidding bosses from contacting their remote workers after they sign off. Some are questioning if that's possible in the United States as remote work moves from a necessary public health measure to a fact of life.
Companies are trying to figure out the barriers between work time and personal time.
Rick Cobb, founder of 2 Discern in Chicago and an expert on work culture, is quick to point out that Portugal has a population of 10 million people. He told WBBM that Portugal is implementing the new texting rules in an effort to entice more remote workers to move to the country.
"They recognize that they can create a really attractive environment for people who have the ability to work from home by creating this boundary."
Portugal's lawmakers decided to erect that barrier to ensure there are some limits even if employees are working remotely, according to Cobb.
"What they're addressing is the idea that so many now people are in a work from home environment and there are really no barriers around that work and personal life relationship," he said.
Cobb said some major companies in the U.S. may implement similar policies in order to attract or retain remote talent.
"To give that boundary run so they can create or maintain their own life is actually a pretty smart play."
Under the new law in Portugal, employers who contact remote workers after they log off for the day will have to pay a financial penalty.
Cobb added that corporate America is watching as everyone adjusts to the at-home work life balance.
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