In addition, more than half of the workers (53.1 percent) who received calls outside of their normal working hours returned to their workplace. (image: KobizMedia/ Korea Bizwire)
SEOUL, Feb. 15 (Korea Bizwire) – The results of a new study show that eight out of ten office workers were contacted for work-related duties outside of normal business hours.
Although an amendment of the Labor Standards Act containing “the right to be disconnected” (the so-called Act on Prohibition of KakaoTalk chat after work), which prohibits assigning work through social media after leaving the office, has been proposed, many office workers report that they are always “connected.”
When office workers were asked as to why they permitted being contacted for work out of office hours, responses such as “It seemed to be urgent” (61.1 percent, multiple response), “It might affect my work” (35.1 percent), “It is natural to keep in touch with work-related tasks” (31.1 percent), “It might cause disadvantage if left unanswered” (30.7%), “Just out of curiosity (16.9 percent) were stated as the primary reasons.
In addition, more than half of the workers (53.1 percent) who received calls outside of their normal working hours returned to their workplace.
When asked if it’s necessary to contact workers out of office hours concerning work, 69.8 percent of workers responded “Only in case of emergency.” Another 17.7 percent answered “No way”, while 12.6 percent said they don’t mind because most of the people who try to get in touch with them have no other choice.
By M.H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
