Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 Tabled in Parliament; Seeks Legal Ban on After-Hours Work Calls
Image: ANI/File
A private member’s bill introduced during the winter session of Parliament has sparked national debate over workplace boundaries and digital pressure. The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, moved by NCP leader Supriya Sule on Friday, seeks to give employees a legal right to refuse work-related calls, messages and emails outside office hours or on holidays.
The winter session, which began on December 1, saw heavy attendance as the proposal grabbed attention across sectors, from corporate employees to labour rights advocates.
What the Right to Disconnect Bill Proposes
If passed by both Houses and turned into law, the Bill would allow employees to ignore official communication after working hours without fear of disciplinary action. This includes all work messages across platforms such as WhatsApp, email, SMS, Teams, Zoom and phone calls.
The Bill lays out the following protections:
• Workers can completely switch off after office hours
• No punishment or warnings for refusing to respond
• Applies to every type of official communication
• Employers must mutually agree with workers on emergency contact rules
Companies that violate the rule may face a penalty of 1% of the employee’s total remuneration.
Can Companies Still Contact Employees After Office Hours?
The Bill does not completely eliminate employer-employee communication outside work. Instead, it allows exceptions strictly for emergencies, and only after both sides agree on clear terms.
A proposed committee will define rules for what qualifies as an emergency and how communication should be handled. If employees voluntarily extend their hours, companies must pay overtime at the normal salary rate.
The aim, according to the Bill, is to shield personal time while acknowledging that certain industries occasionally require urgent communication.
Why the Bill Was Introduced
While digital tools have improved flexibility and productivity, lawmakers say they have also created a culture of constant availability. During the Bill’s introduction, data was shared highlighting how this trend has led to:
• Sleep deprivation
• Stress and emotional exhaustion
• “Telepressure” — the urgent need to respond instantly
• “Info-obesity” — overload from nonstop work messages
Supporters argue the Bill will restore work-life balance and improve overall well-being for millions of employees navigating online work environments.
Our Thoughts
The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 marks an important conversation about modern work culture and the toll digital communication takes on mental health. As workplaces increasingly rely on instant messaging and online supervision, the boundaries between personal life and professional obligations have grown blurred. The Bill attempts to restore this balance by legally acknowledging employees’ right to rest and uninterrupted personal time.
If implemented effectively, the law could reduce stress, improve sleep quality and help prevent burnout—concerns highlighted by recent research. However, its success will depend on how companies interpret “emergency communication” and how enforcement mechanisms are designed. While the Bill offers hope for healthier work-life boundaries, the challenge will be ensuring compliance without creating confusion in industries that depend on round-the-clock activity.
TheTrendingPeople.com will continue tracking updates as the debate moves forward in Parliament.
