Many workers today need to be online to handle their work, regardless of the time.
Technology was once expected to help people work more efficiently and have more time to rest. However, the reality is the opposite: many digital workers are living in a state of "constant online," both technically and mentally.
Every profession is being "forced" to work online.
From "traditional" professions like accounting and marketing to emerging fields such as ride-hailing drivers, content creators, and online salespeople, "being always ready to respond" has become an unwritten requirement.
According to Microsoft's mid-June report on work trends, the percentage of employees who have meetings after 8 PM has increased by 16%, and approximately 29% of employees have to check emails at 10 PM. On average, each person sends and receives more than 58 messages outside of working hours, and they are also interrupted an average of every 1.75 minutes, equivalent to 275 times per day...
Ms. Quynh, an administrative employee at a logistics company, shared: "Even after meetings at 6 or 8 PM, my boss still calls asking for urgent files. I want to hang up but I'm afraid of being judged as 'irresponsible.' Gradually, I don't dare leave my phone."
Ride-hailing drivers, livestream sellers, online consultants – those who seem to have control over their time – are actually the most vulnerable to being "forced to work online."
"If the app isn't on, there are no orders. And if you don't quickly accept them, someone else will take them. Turning off the phone means you're off for the whole day," shared Quoc, a ride-hailing driver.
Technology platforms operate based on algorithms, and algorithms prioritize "hardworking" individuals. This means that those who are online frequently, consistently receive orders, and maintain a high response rate will be rewarded or at least not penalized.
The flexibility of working independently, a major reason many choose to work for free, has now become an invisible trap. Freelancers are controlled by a system, their attendance is tracked by data, and they are constantly evaluated even when they are not in the office.
When the "right to remain silent" becomes a privilege.
In many developed countries, the concept of the "right to disconnect" has been codified into law. France is a pioneer with a law allowing employees to refuse to respond to emails outside of working hours without penalty.
Ireland, Italy, and several global companies such as Volkswagen and BMW also restrict internal email systems to after business hours.
In Vietnam, although the Labor Law stipulates working and rest hours, the act of "shutting down" still largely depends on company culture and the invisible pressures of the digital environment.
A middle-level manager in the communications field shared: "Although not mandatory, if employees remain silent after 8 PM when the team is busy, they are unlikely to be highly regarded. It's not explicitly stated, but everyone understands."
Turning off the engine: A right or a risky choice?
The issue isn't just about technology; it's also about a shift in the perception of productivity. When data, results, and presence become the criteria for evaluating people, being "online" is almost synonymous with "being responsible," while being "offline" is seen as "indifference."
The worrying thing is that workers are gradually forgetting that they have the right to rest. Late-night calls, unexpected messages, or having to respond urgently outside of working hours have become the 'normal,' a dangerous kind of 'new normal' that blurs the lines between life and work.
Online productivity has become the new definition of productivity. But that kind of productivity can't last forever if people are no longer disconnected to recover, to rest, and to live as human beings.
Turning off your computer isn't always about avoiding work; it's sometimes the only way to protect yourself.
SONG TRI
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/lam-viec-thoi-nay-la-luc-nao-cung-phai-online-20250704115407539.htm
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