In a landmark move that could reshape work-life balance in India, the Lok Sabha saw the introduction of the Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025, by MP Supriya Sule. The bill seeks to give employees the legal right to switch off meaning they won’t be required to respond to work calls, emails or messages outside official working hours or on holidays.
What exactly does the bill propose?
According to the bill, once your official workday ends, you’re free to ignore work-related communication whether it’s a late evening email, a text after midnight, or a call on a Sunday. No pressure, no guilt. Under the proposed law:
Refusing after-hours calls, emails or messages will not attract disciplinary action. If an employee chooses to respond voluntarily after hours, that extra time should count as overtime and paid accordingly. To ensure enforcement, the bill envisions an “Employees’ Welfare Authority” that would monitor company compliance, collect data on digital workloads, and help set fair after-hours communication norms.
In short “When you log off, you stay off.”
Why now? The problem of always-on work culture
With remote work, hybrid jobs, and 24/7 connectivity becoming the norm, many workers especially in IT and corporate jobs increasingly report burnout, stress, sleep problems, and blurred boundaries between work and personal life.
Advocates of the bill argue that such unceasing connectivity isn’t a sign of productivity, it’s a mental health hazard. The Bill aims to restore a buffer between professional demands and personal time.
What’s the catch and why passage isn’t guaranteed
It’s worth noting that the Right to Disconnect Bill is currently a private member’s bill. That means it’s introduced by an MP not the government and historically, such bills rarely become law.
Still, even if it fails to pass, the Bill will have served its purpose: sparking public debate on a serious issue, pushing companies and policymakers to rethink how we treat “off time.”
What it could mean for employees and Indian work culture
If enacted, this Bill could:
Give millions of workers peace of mind no more mid-night calls or weekend pings. Bring accountability and fairness: extra work = extra pay. Encourage companies to plan better, respect boundaries, and value employee well-being.
For many workers, especially in high-stress jobs, that kind of clarity could mean the difference between mental exhaustion and real rest.
From midnight-email marathons to guilt-free logout this Bill could be the first real step toward a healthier, more balanced future for work in India.