SHRM and Garden State Council-SHRM Oppose N.J. Right-to-Disconnect Bill

SHRM and the Garden State Council-SHRM (GSC-SHRM) have expressed opposition to New Jersey Assembly Bill 4852, which would prohibit public and private employers from contacting employees outside of working hours and establish the “right to disconnect.”

In a letter, SHRM and GSC-SHRM expressed deep concerns about the negative impact that A4852 would have on New Jersey businesses and workers alike. The groups wrote that the bill’s one-size-fits-all approach limits the autonomy that employers and HR professionals need to establish effective workplace cultures.

After-hours intrusions can certainly lead to employee dissatisfaction—in fact, SHRM research indicates that employees with low work/life integration are 34 times more likely to dread going to work compared to those with high work/life integration. However, sweeping mandates rarely yield positive outcomes. Instead, SHRM and GSC-SHRM urged New Jersey policymakers to focus on targeted efforts that enhance workers’ livelihoods and enable businesses to thrive. These include greater flexibility and total rewards policies (i.e., the monetary and nonmonetary incentives an employee earns) that acknowledge all work performed, benefiting employees without stifling innovation and productivity.

SHRM and GSC-SHRM urge New Jersey residents to visit SHRM’s Advocacy Action Center and send a letter to their state Assembly member and the sponsor of this legislation, expressing concerns about A4852 and urging them to instead work collaboratively with SHRM and GSC-SHRM on solutions that preserve the ability to manage workplaces effectively.