EU Parliament Champions the Right to Disconnect: A Step Toward Healthier Work-Life Balance

The Rise of the “Always-On” Culture

As digital tools have reshaped how we work, the line between office and home life has become blurry. Email alerts and chat notifications make it easy for work to interrupt evenings and weekends. While remote work saved many jobs during the pandemic, it also sparked a new problem: many employees now find themselves answering messages or finishing tasks outside normal working hours.

The Impact on Workers

A growing body of evidence shows constant connectivity can come at a cost. People who often telework are more than twice as likely to exceed the maximum weekly working hours set by the EU compared to those who don’t work remotely. The EU’s Working Time Directive is clear about basic safeguards:

• Maximum working hours: 48 per week
• Minimum daily rest: 11 consecutive hours
• Paid annual leave: At least four weeks

Ignoring these limits puts workers at risk for a range of health problems. Working long hours can erode concentration, cause fatigue, and lead to headaches, eye strain, anxiety, or even burnout. When work devices are always within reach, employees can struggle to find time for real rest and personal life.

Why Parliament Is Taking Action

Recognizing these challenges, the European Parliament has called for a legal framework to guarantee the “right to disconnect.” This would mean that employees aren't expected to answer work communications outside of scheduled working hours. Employers would need to respect these boundaries, and systems would need to be in place to protect workers who exercise this right from retaliation.

To illustrate: Imagine an employee who signs off at 6 pm and chooses not to answer late-night emails from their manager. Under the Parliament’s vision, this person could do so without fear of reprisal—protecting not just their free time, but their mental and physical health.

What Could Change for Employees and Employers

If the right to disconnect becomes EU law, here’s what could happen:

• Workers could refuse after-hours calls, emails, or messages without penalty.
• Employers would not require or expect staff to be reachable off the clock.
• Any training or professional development outside regular hours would need proper compensation, and not impact rest time.
• National governments would need procedures to handle complaints and ensure no discrimination against those claiming their right to disconnect.

Employees must set clear boundaries around your work hours. Communicate these limits to your team and manager. Don’t be afraid to use “Do Not Disturb” features to mute notifications outside your scheduled hours.

Employers must establish policies making it clear when staff are expected to be available. Train managers to respect these boundaries and avoid scheduling calls or sending work emails after hours. Set up a fair process to address concerns if boundaries are not honored.

Globally more than 300 million people suffer from depression and work-related mental disorders

As more people work from home, the right to disconnect is emerging as a vital issue for worker well-being. With the Parliament pushing for new laws, there’s hope that employees across Europe will soon have greater protection—and that everyone can enjoy the benefits of flexible work, without sacrificing their right to rest.

Read more: europarl.europa.eu/topics/en/article/20210121STO96103/parliament-wants-to-ensure-the-right-to-disconnect-from-work

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