India
Supriya Sule Brings Forward Bill on Limiting Work Contact After Office Hours: NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule has introduced the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 in the Lok Sabha, aiming to allow employees to switch off from work-related calls and emails after office hours, on weekends and holidays. Indeed, the conversation has become increasingly urgent as India’s modern workforce faces growing stress and burnout.
Rising Support Amid New Realities
The proposal mirrors similar laws passed in countries like Australia, signalling a global shift. A recent Indeed survey highlights why this Bill matters:
- 88% of Indian employees are contacted outside work hours.
- 85% respond even during sickness or holidays.
- Most fear ignoring calls could affect promotions or delay work deliverables.
Even employers acknowledge the need for reform. 79% support a disconnect policy, while 81% say they would offer compensation to staff required to stay reachable after hours.
Generational Divide in Workplace Expectations
Interestingly, work-life balance preferences vary across age groups. Baby Boomers are relatively comfortable with after-hours communication, while over 60% of Gen Z employees would consider quitting if denied their right to disconnect. As India’s young workforce grows, the pressure to adopt balanced work cultures intensifies.
Proposed Law Aims to Protect Mental Health
Sule previously introduced a similar Private Member’s Bill in 2019. This time, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor joined the effort, proposing amendments to limit working hours and improve mental health support. The Bill cites studies warning that round-the-clock availability risks sleep deprivation, stress, and emotional exhaustion, and could lead to a state called “info-obesity”—a condition where constant digital overload overwhelms the brain.
Key Provisions of the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025
The Bill proposes:
- Employees may refuse after-hours calls without facing disciplinary action.
- Creation of an Employees’ Welfare Authority to draft and enforce guidelines.
- Companies with 10 or more workers must negotiate terms for after-hours work, including overtime.
- Government will offer counselling and digital detox services.
- Penalty of 1% of total remuneration for companies violating the rules.
A Turning Point in India’s Work Culture?
The debate gains importance as business leaders like Narayana Murthy and L&T’s SN Subrahmanyan advocate 70–90 hour workweeks, triggering nationwide discussions about productivity versus employee well-being.
Meanwhile, other Private Member Bills introduced in Parliament touch on diverse issues—from menstrual leave and NEET exemption to abolition of the death penalty and journalist protections—signalling a broader rethink on rights and safety at the workplace.
Challenging Yet Symbolic
Private Member Bills rarely become law—only 14 have succeeded since independence, with the last one passed in 1970. Yet, this renewed push shows India’s willingness to rethink how people work, rest, and stay mentally healthy.
 MP Supriya Sule has introduced the Right to Disconnect.){kind=link}