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Work-related orders received by smart devices outside of working hours

CJ Group is starting a campaign banning the issuing of work-related orders by text message or KakaoTalk after work, on weekends, and during other break times. The management innovation plan is the first presented by Lee Jae-hyun since returning to the position of chairman after four years.

CJ announced a corporate culture innovation plan on May 23 that included a ban on the use of Kakao Talk for work-related orders outside of working hours, up to a month’s leave for employees with children entering elementary school, and an increase in paternity leave to two weeks. The aim of the measures is to promote a corporate culture of work and family balance.

The ban on using KakaoTalk to give orders is drawing particular attention. “[Workers] have to get enough rest after work and on weekends to be able to focus more on their duties,” said a CJ source.

“The idea is that they should rest during resting hours and work during work hours. Work efficiency goes up when [workers’] satisfaction with their personal life is high.”

CJ plans to continue using videos and company broadcasts to promote its campaign against the issuing of orders by Kakao Talk after work.

The ban on Kakao Talk during rest times is the result of the severity of the situation where workers receive work-related orders outside of regular work hours. Many have argued that the rise in smart devices among South Korean workers - who already have some of the longest working hours in the world - has taken away their right to any down time. As orders from their supervisors over Kakao Talk after work or on weekends blur the boundaries between work and rest, many workers are complaining their smartphones have become “electronic bracelets” and lamenting that they “don‘t get to ’log off‘ after work.” A 2015 Korea Labor Institute survey of 2,402 working people showed 1,688, or 70.3%, saying they had been issued work-related orders over smart devices outside or working hours or on holidays. Extra working hours over smart devices were estimated at 11.3 (677 minutes) per week.

The question now is whether CJ’s experiment will spread to the rest of society. The climate for now is favorable, with the government, National Assembly, and companies all showing interest. The government‘s commitment is particularly strong. In his pledge to guarantee down time for workers, President Moon Jae-in promised to limit the issuing of work-related orders by phone, text message, or social media outside of working hours. The National Assembly took action earlier in June 2016, with Minjoo Party lawmaker Shin Kyoung-min initiating a Labor Standards Act amendment including a ban on use of Kakao Talk for work-related purposes after employees leave work for the day.

As part of a push to create a “pleasant work environment,” LG Uplus moved in Apr. 2016 to ban the sending of work-related KakaoTalk messages after 10 pm, with violations to result in negative consequences in future personnel decisions.

“A recent survey showed most [supervisors] to be observing the after-10 pm KakaoTalk ban, apart from some unavoidable instances,” a company source said.

“We were frankly worried whether [the ban] would be observed when we started, but it’s been a success. The company’s commitment to it is crucial,” the source added.

Also drawing attention is CJ’s announcement of leave time for employees whose children are entering school. CJ’s decision allows employees the option of taking a month’s leave when their child enters elementary school - a period when children typically need a lot of parental attention. Workers are allowed two weeks off with pay, with the employee option for another two weeks added without pay. Hanwha Chemical and some other Hanwha Group affiliates began introducing a month-long leave system in 2013 for workers with children entering elementary school, while Lotte Chemical, Lotte Department Store, and other Lotte affiliates began instituting their own childcare leave system this year offering up to one year off for women with children entering elementary school.

By Kim So-youn, staff reporter

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