X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parenting & Play by Friso
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-schooler
    • Kids
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • Money Parenting
    • Tips for Parents
    • Tips for Toddlers
    • Tips for Older Kids
    • The 5 Personas
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

'Right to disconnect' From Work Should Be Considered, Says MP Melvin Yong

1 Sep, 2020
'Right to disconnect' From Work Should Be Considered, Says MP Melvin Yong'Right to disconnect' From Work Should Be Considered, Says MP Melvin Yong

The MP urged the Government to consider a "right to disconnect" legislation, which allows employees to negotiate with their employers on answering work calls and emails outside of office hours.

Working from home has become a new norm for many in Singapore since the circuit breaker began in April as the country combats the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, months of working from home have taken a toll on some employees, with growing concern about their mental health.

Radin Mas MP Melvin Yong touched on the issue in Parliament on Monday (Aug 31).

In his speech, he cited a recent survey that found those working from home who were feeling more stressed as compared to frontline workers. 

Right to disconnect From Work Should Be Considered, Says MP Melvin Yong

Image source: iStock

“I hope that the Government could expand the list of occupational diseases under the Work Injury Compensation Act, to include mental health illnesses related to work stress,” MP Melvin Yong said.

“I also hope that the Tripartite Advisory on Mental Health can be expedited so that those who are currently struggling with mental health issues related to work can get the necessary support that they need.”

In April, a psychologist at the Institute of Mental Health shared how some of her patients were clocking in longer hours at work than before, as they struggled to draw the line between work and home.

Overworking, as well as isolation, added to the stress and anxiety that they were facing while working from home, she said.

Right to disconnect From Work Should Be Considered, Says MP Melvin Yong

Image source: iStock

Right to disconnect

In Singapore, some employees reported that their superiors at work expected them to be on-call around the clock, even on weekends and public holidays since they were stuck at home during the pandemic. This led to an increase in their workloads. 

As more people are now working from home, the MP urged the Government to consider a “right to disconnect” legislation, which allows employees to negotiate with their employers on answering work calls and emails outside of office hours.

France pioneered the law in 2017, aimed to address the problems caused by an “always-on” work culture. The overuse of digital devices in modern workplaces is also linked to issues such as burnout, sleeplessness and relationship problems.

“Having a dedicated break can certainly help to reduce employee fatigue and burnout,” Yong said.

This article was first published on AsiaOne and republished on theAsianparent with permission.

ALSO READ: 

How to Effectively Work From Home With Children

Experts Reveal Women Are More Likely To Experience Burnout From Work

5 Terrible Things You Learn When Living With A Hoarder Mum

https://t.me/theAsianparentSG

Partner Stories
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Singapore's Dengue Cases Surpass The 35,000 Mark, Highest Since 2013
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
Typhoon Haiyan relief effort
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
What parents can learn from the Boston bombings
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!
The brainy bunch - 6 siblings begin college by age 12!

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

asiaone

  • Home
  • /
  • News
  • /
  • 'Right to disconnect' From Work Should Be Considered, Says MP Melvin Yong
Share:
  • Work-life Balance: 9 Simple Tips To Keep Work Stress Outside Of Home

    Work-life Balance: 9 Simple Tips To Keep Work Stress Outside Of Home

  • What Can Mums Do to Achieve Work Life Balance?

    What Can Mums Do to Achieve Work Life Balance?

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

  • 5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

    5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

app info
get app banner
  • Work-life Balance: 9 Simple Tips To Keep Work Stress Outside Of Home

    Work-life Balance: 9 Simple Tips To Keep Work Stress Outside Of Home

  • What Can Mums Do to Achieve Work Life Balance?

    What Can Mums Do to Achieve Work Life Balance?

  • Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

    Singaporean Sugar Baby Spills The Beans On What Life Is Like With A Sugar Daddy

  • 5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

    5 Ways A Narcissistic Parent Can Negatively Affect A Child's Personality

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2022. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.