A bill proposed in New York City would prohibit employers from emailing or texting their workers during non-work hours.

The effects of an increasingly connected workplace have been a frequent focus of psychological studies. With the increasing sophistication of mobile technology, people can stay connected to their work whether they’re at a picnic or lying in bed. The blurring of the work / personal division has raised concerns among mental health professionals that being unable to “unplug” from work will stress out employees and enable their bosses to overwork them.

According to a survey released by InterCall, a conferencing and collaboration services provider, nearly 30% of respondents said they feel the need to stay connected to work 24/7, even during weekends, breaks, or holidays.

If the “Disconnecting from Work” bill is passed, New York City would follow the lead of France and make it illegal for businesses with ten or more employees to e-communicate with their workers during non-work hours. Employees who work overtime or who are on call 24/7 would not be covered under the measure.

No word on how the bill would prevent employers based outside of New York City from e-communicating with their workers when they're not on the clock.