🏡 Rights & responsibilities · #358

Work keeps invading family time through phone calls and e-mails. How do I set boundaries?

Boundaries between work and family have to be built deliberately, because technology lets work follow us home. Set certain times each day when the work phone is put away, such as dinner and the children's bedtime. Let your employer and colleagues know when you are truly available, so that expectations are clear. Give the family your full attention during that time, not just your physical presence. Help your spouse keep their boundaries too. Start with one strictly protected time each day and build from there. A family that is fully present even for a short while is happier than one that is together but distracted. See everyday adab.

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This answer is general reference, not a fatwa. For your situation, consult the religious affairs office, a Syarie lawyer or your state Syariah Court.

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