Work-life balance push: Right to Disconnect Bill sparks corporate debate; firms say boundaries help but flexibility key
Dec 14, 2025
A private member's bill proposing the right to disconnect has reignited discussions on work-life boundaries in India. While unlikely to become law, the bill highlights a cultural shift towards employee well-being, with several companies already implementing flexible policies and acknowledging the need to move beyond an 'always-on' work culture.
The Right to Disconnect Bill, 2025 — a private member’s bill introduced in Parliament last week — has reopened the conversation on work-life boundaries, even though experts say it is unlikely to become law anytime soon. The legislation, moved by NCP MP Supriya Sule, proposes giving employees the legal right to ignore work-related communication outside designated working hours.
While private member’s bills seldom translate into statutes, they often succeed in spotlighting issues of public concern — and this one has already triggered strong reactions across India Inc, according to an ET report.
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Executives at Mercedes-Benz India, RPG Group, Bombay Realty (Wadia Group), Grant Thornton Bharat, TeamLease Services and Randstad India said the move underlines a growing cultural shift toward employee well-being. Several countries including France, Belgium, Ireland and Australia have already enacted similar rights, experts noted. “Its stated intent is broadly aligned with our approach to employee well-being in a holistic manner,” an RPG Group spokesperson told ET. The conglomerate has implemented flexible hours, hybrid models and firm boundaries such as CEAT’s 8 pm–8 am no-work window, no-work weekends and silent lunch hours.
“We believe a happy work environment leads to happy employees, who in turn will deliver their best,” the spokesperson said, ET quoted.
Mercedes-Benz India MD and CEO Santosh Iyer said the company’s hybrid working model — allowing employees to work from home twice a week — supports “quality time with family members” while maintaining accountability. “There is higher trust in hybrid culture,” he added. Randstad India CEO Viswanath PS described the proposed law as a “coming of age” moment for the Indian workforce. “This invites us to dismantle the ‘always-on’ habit,” he said, arguing that leadership must shift focus from “input metrics” like hours worked to “impact metrics”.
Grant Thornton Bharat partner Priyanka Gulati said conversations with about 20 client organisations across sectors show broad support for clearer boundaries. “Self-accountability is more powerful in mature organisations where employees measure their energy, not just their hours,” she said. At the same time, she noted that companies expect employees to stretch when business demands it. TeamLease Digital CEO Neeti Sharma said defined hours — 9 am to 6 pm, Monday to Friday — act as a helpful baseline, particularly for dispersed teams. “Companies also need flexibility for global collaboration, time zones and project-based work,” she said.
Experts stressed that young professionals often hesitate to say no, which makes clearer norms important. Lydia Naik, Group CHRO at Bombay Realty (Wadia Group), said there is “no one-size-fits-all” for work hours. “What truly matters is the quality of work, personal balance and ensuring workloads are realistic,” she said.
Despite the bill’s uncertain legislative future, the renewed debate suggests a shift in how Indian workplaces view well-being, productivity and boundaries — with corporate India acknowledging that the era of being perpetually “online” may be nearing its end.
[The Times of India]
