In Alberta, many employees find themselves answering work emails or phone calls long after their shift ends. With smartphones and remote work blurring the lines between professional and personal life, the question comes up often:
Do I have the right to disconnect from work after hours?
While there’s currently no Right to Disconnect law in Alberta, there are still important rules under the Employment Standards Code that protect your time and pay.
The Right to Disconnect is the idea that employees should have the ability to unplug from work outside of normal hours — without pressure or penalty from their employer.
It’s meant to protect mental health, reduce burnout, and promote a better work-life balance in an increasingly connected world.
Ontario is currently the only province in Canada with a formal Right to Disconnect law, which requires larger employers to have a written policy explaining when staff are expected — or not expected — to engage in work-related communications.
No.
Alberta does not have a Right to Disconnect law, and employers are not legally required to create a written policy on after-hours communication.
That means there’s no specific rule stopping an employer from emailing or calling you after work — but there are limits to how much they can expect you to work without additional pay.
Learn more: Read our Right to Disconnect Ontario and Right to Disconnect BC guides to learn...
Denton Loudermill Jr. watched every Kansas City Chiefs game at his sister's house with his family. The Kansas native and his late father were diehard fans. So, when the 2024 Super Bowl champions' ...