The Right to Disconnect: A National Imperative
The digital age has blurred the lines between professional and personal life, causing a culture of constant availability. This has led to a significant increase in work-related stress and burnout among employees in India. The introduction of "The Right to Disconnect" is presented as a necessary reform to counteract these issues.
Current Situation and Challenges
- Workload and Burnout:
- 51% of India's workforce works over 49 hours a week, ranking India second globally for extended working hours.
- 78% of employees report job burnout, leading to physical and emotional exhaustion.
- Lack of work-life balance contributes to lifestyle diseases like hypertension, diabetes, anxiety, and depression.
- Legal Framework:
- The Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code, 2020, inadequately covers all employee types, excluding many gig and contractual workers.
- The threat of disciplinary action for not being available 24/7 skews power dynamics in favor of employers.
Proposed Bill and Its Intentions
- Core Protections:
- Employees should not be penalized for not responding to work-related communications outside of working hours.
- A grievance mechanism must be established for rights violations.
- Global Context:
- Countries like France, Portugal, Italy, Ireland, and Australia have already legislated the "right to disconnect".
Implementation and Benefits
- Legislative Framework:
- Amending the Occupational Safety, Health, and Working Conditions Code to ensure uniform protection for all workers across India.
- Incorporating mental health support as part of occupational safety.
- Organizational Culture Change:
- Promoting awareness and sensitization programs for employees and management to address toxic work cultures.
- Encouraging output over mere presence as a workplace value.
