Portugal Introduces New Law to Improve Work-Life Balance
Nov, 2021
Vocabulary list
• Have students read each word and definition. Correct pronunciation as necessary.
• Read the sample sentence and have students repeat. Correct pronunciation if required.
• After reading the list, ask students which words are new for them and elicit sample sentences for each word.
• Feedback and correct as necessary.
ban (verb)
ˈbæn
to prohibit, not permit or allow something to happen
Smoking is banned in pubs, clubs and restaurants in Europe.
fine (noun)
faɪn
money that has to be paid as a punishment for not obeying a rule or law
My neighbour got a fine for dropping rubbish in the park.
balance (noun)
ˈbæ.ləns
a situation a state where things are of equal, or exist in correct amounts
Sometimes it’s hard to balance between family life with work commitments.
remote (adjective)
rɪˈməʊt
done from a distance
A lot of companies now employ remote workers from all over the world.
interrupt (verb)
ˌɪn.təˈr.ʌpt
to suddenly disturb or cause a break in a process or action in progress
Stop interrupting me when I am speaking!
isolated (adjective)
ˈaɪ.səˌleɪ.tɪd
without much contact with other people
When I first moved abroad, I felt quite isolated.
attract (verb)
əˈtrækt
to make someone or something come closer or be interested in something
Barcelona’s art, culture and architecture attracts many tourists to the city.
legislation (noun)
ˌledʒ.ɪˈsleɪ.ʃən
a set of laws put in place by a government or official organisation
The new legislation that has been introduced will improve road safety.
Portugal Introduces New Law to Improve Work-Life Balance
Portugal has banned bosses from contacting staff outside of working hours as part of its new ‘right to rest’ law. The new law means that companies with more than 10 employees could get fined if they contact staff after their working hours, unless it is because of an emergency.
The new law hopes to protect employees’ right to a healthy work-life balance. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a large increase in remote working. As a result, many people’s personal time is being interrupted by ‘work time’.
There are other changes also, which include more support for parents with young children. They will no longer have to ask for their company’s permission to work from home if their children are under 8 years old. Companies will also have to help pay for some of their staff’s home electricity and internet bills, and to prevent workers feeling isolated, there must be a meeting in the office at least once every two months.
Government minister Ana Mendes Godinho told the Web Summit technology conference in Lisbon that she hopes the new rules will also help attract more remote workers from abroad. She said that she believes Portugal is one of the best places in the world for remote workers to live.
Other countries already have similar laws as those in Portugal. Not working or answering messages from your employer outside of work hours is protected by law in France, Spain, the Philippines and India.
According to research company Gartner, about 32% of employees worldwide could be working remotely by the end of 2021, compared to just 17% in 2019. If this happens, more employment legislation may have to be introduced around the world to adapt to the new pressures of working at home.
QUESTIONS
- All companies in Portugal have to obey their ‘right to rest’ law.
TRUE / FALSE / NO INFORMATION GIVEN
- Why has Portugal introduced their new law?
- How does the new law benefit parents with young children?
- Companies will have to pay for all of their employees electricity and internet bills.
TRUE / FALSE / NO INFORMATION GIVEN
- What percentage of employees worldwide worked remotely in 2019, according to Gartner?
- France, Spain, India and the Philippines all have the same law as Portugal
TRUE / FALSE / NO INFORMATION GIVEN
Discussion
- What are your thoughts on Portugal’s ‘right to rest’ law?
- Does your employer allow you to work from home? How many days?
- Do you enjoy working from home?
What are the advantages and disadvantages of home working? - Is it common for employers to contact workers outside of working hours in your job, or in your culture in general?
- When you’re working day is finished, do you continue working?
- How much of your free time away from work do you think you spend doing things that are related to work; looking at emails for example?
- Do you think your employer offers a good work-life balance? Why /Why not?
- Do you find it surprising that 32% of employees worldwide could be working remotely by the end of the year?
- If you had a fully remote job, what countries would you consider working in?