Many readers said the issue should not be viewed simply as a matter of receiving messages after work.

One reader wrote that they basically work from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily and have to keep their phone active during those hours to receive company's messages.

"If I don't handle overtime work, I'll get a disciplinary report for failing to complete my duties," the reader said, adding that the company's expectations are not the sole cause of overtime.

Others argued that work-related communications often continue beyond official working hours because employees need to coordinate tasks and resolve issues in real time.

A man uses a computer in office working at night. Illustration photo by Unsplash

Reader Hien Vu said some jobs require employees to remain available outside office hours.

Vu stated that whether they like it or not, many workers have to adapt to using laptops and phones to handle work outside working hours if they don't want to be laid off.

The reader also cited a survey by Australia's General Statistics Office, which found that approximately 44% of workers worked more than 48 hours per week and that 89% of those working more than 48 hours chose to do so voluntarily.

Other readers, however, expressed concern about the growing intrusion of work into personal time.

Reader Van Du Nguyen said the need to use phones and laptops to handle work outside office hours reflects a broader technological trend that is affecting work-life balance.

"I see that in Vietnam, there hasn't been a habit of handling and exchanging work within designated times; instead, people text, exchange work, and assign tasks at any time, day or night," the reader wrote.

Some readers suggested that any regulations on after-hours communication should take into account different industries and working arrangements.

In the opinion of another reader, the culture of responding to messages and calls outside office hours should be discussed in advance so colleagues and partners have clear expectations.

A separate reader said the issue is often less about company policy than about individual work habits and time management.

"If people know how to manage work and communicate effectively, they don't even sleep peacefully because they have to keep responding to customers, then that's not living your job. That's not moving time to rest; it's exploiting your labor," the reader commented.

Others argued that modern digital lifestyles make it increasingly difficult to separate work from personal time, particularly for knowledge workers whose responsibilities are not always confined to traditional office hours.