Guiding Principles on Implementing Workers' Right to Disconnect

The world of work is experiencing a digital revolution. The growing use of digital and technological tools over the last few decades has made it possible to work anywhere and anytime. The Covid-19 pandemic only increased the pace of this development. Whereas the digitalisation of work and the expansion of telework present potential advantages in terms of flexibility, productivity and conciliation, these trends can also result in an intensification of work, long working hours, the blurring of limits between work and rest time or increased stress arising from continuous surveillance and monitoring of performance and productivity. These factors can, in turn, negatively affect the physical and psychological health of employees.
As a consequence, it seems necessary to regulate some aspects of the new digital work environment with the aim of offsetting at least some of the negative impacts deriving from the frequent use of digital work tools. It is in this context that the right to disconnect (R2D) becomes relevant. The ten fundamental principles (Guiding Principles) herein set a regulatory foundation for the R2D in Europe. These cover aspects that ought to be considered when drawing up standards, to ensure a balanced regulation of the R2D.