How often do you find yourself answering a work call during a holiday or replying to emails late at night? The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, introduced in the Lok Sabha, aims to differentiate between office hours and personal time. At a time when digital tools keep employees constantly reachable, the bill aims to protect workers from burnout and promote a healthier work–life balance.
Why This Bill Matters Now
With remote work, instant messaging, and 24/7 connectivity becoming the norm, many employees feel pressured to stay “always available.” This has led to rising complaints of stress, sleep deprivation, and mental fatigue.
Introducing the legislation, MP Supriya Sule said the bill aims to improve overall quality of life by addressing “digital burnout” and restoring personal time.
Key Provisions of the Bill
- No obligation to respond off-hours: Employees are not required to answer calls, texts, or emails outside of designated working hours or on holidays.
- Penalty for employers: Organisations violating this rule can be penalised with a fine of 1% of their total organisation’s employee remuneration.
- Flexibility for organisations: Companies may still set their own internal rules, provided they are transparent and obtained with employee consent.
Overtime and Digital Responsibility
If an employee voluntarily responds to work-related communication outside of regular working hours, they will be entitled to overtime pay, as prescribed under future guidelines.
The bill also recommends establishing digital detox centres and providing counselling to help people manage their screen time and digital habits.
The Larger Debate: How Much Should We Work?
The bill comes amid heated discussions on work culture in India:
In 2023, Infosys co-founder N. R. Narayana Murthy triggered controversy by suggesting a 70-hour workweek for young professionals.
L&T Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan later remarked that he regretted not making employees work even on Sundays and supported longer work-hour expectations.
These statements sparked widespread criticism from employees and labour-rights advocates, many of whom argue that excessive work hours harm both productivity and well-being.