On Friday, Supriya Sule, Member of Parliament from the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), introduced the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, a groundbreaking piece of legislation aimed at addressing the rising pressures of the “always-on” work culture. The bill seeks to empower employees by giving them the legal right to disconnect from work-related communications, including calls, messages, and emails, outside of official working hours, including weekends and public holidays.
The introduction of the bill comes in response to the growing concerns surrounding employee burnout, mental health, and work-related stress, exacerbated by the constant digital connectivity that defines modern work environments. As the world becomes more interconnected through technology, employees often find themselves under immense pressure to remain accessible and responsive to work-related queries, even during off-hours. This persistent “telepressure” — the pressure to respond immediately to emails, calls, or messages — has led to significant physical and emotional exhaustion, poor sleep, and increased anxiety.
In India, where workweeks are among the longest in the world, the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 aims to safeguard employees’ personal time and mental health. With an increasing number of workers reporting feelings of being “always on,” this bill seeks to create a legal framework that allows employees to recharge outside of work without fear of repercussion or penalties.
Employees will have the legal right to refuse any work-related communication, including emails, calls, or messages, after official working hours. This protection extends to weekends and public holidays, ensuring that employees are not required to remain available outside of their designated work time.
Employers and employees must mutually agree on a clear procedure for reaching out in cases of genuine work-related emergencies outside of regular hours. This provision ensures that employees are not completely inaccessible during urgent situations but protects them from being inundated with non-urgent communications.
If an employee voluntarily chooses to work beyond their designated hours, they must receive overtime pay as compensation. This provision ensures that workers are fairly remunerated for any extra time spent working beyond their contracted hours.
Employers who violate these rights could face a penalty amounting to 1% of total employee remuneration. This penalty serves as a deterrent against organizations that may attempt to disregard the rights of their employees or continue to foster an “always-on” culture.
By legally ensuring the right to disconnect, the bill aims to reduce the growing problem of “telepressure” — the expectation that employees should be available and responsive at all times. This provision is particularly important in a digital age where the boundaries between work and personal life are increasingly blurred.
Supriya Sule, a strong advocate for workers’ rights, has previously highlighted the need to protect employees’ personal time. In 2019, she had proposed a similar initiative, which was met with widespread support from labor rights groups and mental health advocates. This new bill, introduced in 2025, strengthens her commitment to addressing employee well-being and the evolving nature of work culture in India.
The bill also seeks to strike a balance between work flexibility — which has become increasingly important in the post-pandemic era — and the need to preserve the mental and physical health of workers. In a country like India, where employees often face intense work pressures and long hours, the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 presents an essential step toward a more balanced and sustainable work-life culture.
The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 has already received significant praise from various labor rights organizations and mental health advocates, who see it as a long-overdue legislative step towards better work-life balance. Many experts believe that its passage could have a profound impact on the way Indian companies manage work expectations, especially as the country strives to maintain competitiveness in a global economy while safeguarding the well-being of its workforce.
The bill’s potential passage could also mark a significant shift in India’s work culture, moving toward a more humane and employee-friendly approach. This bill could set a precedent for other nations to adopt similar measures as they contend with the challenges of the modern digital workspace.
In the context of India’s prolonged workweeks, the bill aims to ensure that employees are not forced to sacrifice their personal time, family life, and mental health in the pursuit of professional success. By establishing a legal framework for disconnecting from work, it reinforces the notion that workers deserve the right to switch off from professional obligations, allowing them to recharge and ultimately perform better when they are at work.
The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 offers a promising solution to the growing concerns around employee burnout and the invasion of personal time in the modern workplace. By granting employees the legal right to disconnect from work-related communications outside of official hours, the bill takes a significant step toward improving mental health, productivity, and overall well-being for India’s workforce.
If passed, the bill will be a landmark achievement in the quest for work-life balance, promoting a more sustainable and healthy working environment for all employees in India.
