Right to disconnect and fair telework: EC talks with social partners

The European Commission is taking the next steps towards introducing workers' right to disconnect and fair telework and launched today second-stage talks with social partners.

These talks will gather EU social partner's views on a potential EU-level initiative to reduce the risks of the ‘always-on' work culture and to ensure fair and quality telework for workers.

Digital technologies have transformed the way we work with a significant increase in the number of people teleworking. To ensure fair conditions for telework and protect workers’ rights, including the right to disconnect, social dialogue is essential. The input of workers and employers is key to addressing the challenges such as blurred work-life boundaries. With this second-stage consultation, we aim to shape EU action that protects workers’ wellbeing and work-life balance, while helping businesses make the most of digital opportunities.

Roxana Mînzatu, Executive Vice-President for Social Rights and Skills, Quality Jobs and Preparedness

Concretely,

Telework has doubled in the EU since 2019, with one in five Europeans (20.3%) working from home at least part of their time in 2024.

Digital tools provide both workers and employers with more flexibility in organising work, allowing for greater autonomy and innovative ways of working. Increased flexibility can also contribute to a better work-life balance. However, digital tools have also contributed to an ‘always-on' work culture, where working anytime can become an expectation. This has led to increasing calls for a right to disconnect and safeguards to ensure that digitalisation does not weaken workers' rights.

Social partners

social partners are invited to share their views on:

• Workers' right to disconnect;
• Fair and quality telework, including non-discrimination, access to equipment, data protection and monitoring;
• Occupational safety and health.

This second-stage consultation follows a first-stage consultation held from April to June 2024. Social partners are invited to respond by 6 October 2025. Following this consultation, social partners may launch negotiations among themselves. Alternatively, the Commission will analyse the feedback and will consider action at EU level, in full respect of national competencies.

Background

This consultation follows the European Parliament's 2021 call for action on the right to disconnect and remote work. It is also in line with President von der Leyen's Political Guidelines for 2024-2029, where she announced a new Action Plan on the implementation of the European Pillar of Social Rights, including initiatives on AI management, telework and mental health.

In 2024, the Commission published a study exploring the social, economic and legal aspects of telework and the right to disconnect, in the context of digitalisation and post-COVID-19 trends. This study builds on extensive input from national administrations, social partners, experts and academia, and will feed into the preparation of EU action alongside the results of this consultation. The Commission is currently conducting a second study to further analyse the added value and impacts of potential EU action.

For More Information

Consultation document: second-phase consultation of social partners

Analytical document accompanying the second-stage consultation

Study on telework and the right to disconnect