India needs Right to Disconnect: 13 Countries have implemented this Policy
Indians are being pressurized to work extra which adversely impacts their work-life balance. A survey by global job platform Indeed, conducted in July–September 2024, found that 88% of Indians stay in contact with work even after office hours. The survey stated that:
- 85% employees stay connected even on sick leave or public holidays.
- 79% employees feel embarrassed if they are not available after work hours.
- 81% employees struggle to separate work from personal life.
What do the Indian Labor Laws say?
Indian Labor Laws clearly state that an employee can work for 8 hours a day. An employee can do a maximum of 4 hours of overtime in a day. If we include overtime, the total duration can’t be more than 12 hours. In a week, an employee can work for a maximum of 48 hours in case of 4 4-day work week. For overtime, an employee will receive double their salary. 1 day leave should be mandatorily provided to employees per week.
| Rule | Description |
|---|---|
| Work in 1 day | 12 hours (8 hours regular + 4 hours overtime) |
| Work in 1 week | 48 hours (previously 60) |
| Overtime Payment | Double salary (200%) |
| Weekly Holiday | 1 day mandatory |
| 4-Day Week | 4 days × 12 hours (total 48 hours only) |
8 out of 10 employees support a ‘Right to Disconnect’ policy, which would allow workers to completely disconnect from office calls, emails, and messages after work. Currently, India does not have this law, but Kerala is moving towards it. Kerala’s Right to Disconnect Bill 2025 allows employees to ignore emails, calls, messages, and meeting requests after their shift ends. The goal is to balance work and personal life and reduce stress. The bill was introduced in September 2025 and is under review.
Why is ‘Right to Disconnect’ policy needed?
A 2022 report by the Center for Future Work found that 71% of employees work more than their scheduled hours. Almost one-third reported feeling tired and anxious, and over a quarter said it hurts their personal relationships. A WHO-ILO study found that India is one of the countries most affected by deaths due to overwork. Many Indian workers work 10–11 hours a day without extra pay. Many Global countries have implemented the Right to Disconnect to provide a better work environment to employees.
Right to Disconnect is implemented in below countries👇
- Australia
- France
- Ireland
- Germany
- Italy
- Spain
- Canada
- Belgium
- Chile
- Mexico
- Ukraine
- Luxembourg
- Argentina
Why is Work-Life Balance important?
Work-life balance means keeping a healthy balance between work and personal life (family, health, friends, hobbies, rest). It helps a person:
- Reduce stress
- Stay mentally healthy
- Be more productive
- Sleep better
- Maintain good family and personal relationships
