Last October, a private member’s bill introduced in the Kerala legislative assembly rekindled the debate on the right to disconnect: employees’ right to ignore work-related emails, calls, or other electronic communications beyond working hours. The bill aims to realise employees’ right to rest, which is inscribed as a human right under Article 24 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Even the Economic Survey called for relaxing restrictions on daily working hours to promote ease of doing business and increase worker productivity. This despite the fact that increased work hours do not necessarily translate to increased productivity. Employers must be sensitised about the rightsizing of the workforce, evolving efficient working processes, and the allocation of work in proportion to working hours.

Source: The Telegraph January 05, 2026 02:31 UTC