In today’s fast-paced digital age, the boundaries between work and personal life have nearly disappeared. Smartphones buzz late into the night, emails arrive at odd hours, and employees feel pressured to stay constantly available even during weekends, holidays, or personal time. This “always-on” culture has fueled stress, burnout, and a decline in mental well-being across professions.

To address this growing concern, Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule, from the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar), introduced the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 during the winter session of Parliament. The bill aims to give employees the legal right to switch off from work after hours and protect them from penalties for doing so.

A. Key Provisions of the Bill

The Bill grants employees the right to ignore work-related calls, messages, emails, or instructions once their shift ends.

If an employee chooses not to respond after office hours, the employer cannot penalize or discipline them for it.

If an employee voluntarily responds to work-related communication after hours, they are entitled to overtime pay at the normal wage rate.

Employers can contact workers after office hours only when both parties have mutually agreed upon a communication window.

The Bill proposes the creation of a new authority responsible for:

To support mental health, the government would provide access to counseling services helping employees maintain a healthy work–life balance.

The Bill suggests forming digital detox centers to help individuals reduce harmful screen habits and manage digital overload.

Companies violating the provisions may face sanctions amounting to 1% of the total employee remuneration, a meaningful financial deterrent.

B. Why the Bill Matters

The modern workforce is grappling with rising stress, burnout, anxiety, and work-induced fatigue. Remote work and digital tools, while beneficial, have blurred the line between “office hours” and “after hours.”

Employees often feel pressured to stay available at all times, leading to:

The Right to Disconnect Bill seeks to rebuild a healthy boundary between professional and personal life. By protecting an employee’s off-duty hours, the Bill encourages better mental health, improved job satisfaction, and greater overall well-being.

C. Global Precedents

Several countries have already adopted the right to disconnect, recognizing its importance in the digital era:

India’s proposed bill follows these international trends and adds unique measures like counseling services and digital detox centers.

D. Conclusion

The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 reflects a growing recognition of the need to protect employees from the pressures of a hyper-connected work culture. Even if it does not become law soon, it sparks an important national conversation about work life balance, mental health, digital well-being, and the rights of employees in a technology-driven age.

Co-authored by Neeraj Vyas, Partner ([email protected]) and Mehak Chadha, Associate ([email protected]).