Kerala’s ‘Right To Disconnect Bill’ Challenges Toxic Work Culture, Letting Employees Log Off Guilt

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It's 11:47 p.m. Your phone buzzes, "urgent client request." You sigh, open your laptop, and tell yourself you'll just reply once. It's never once.

For millions of Indian employees, this scene has become normal, a sign that work never really ends. But Kerala just drew a line in the digital sand.

The southern state has become the first in India to introduce the 'Right to Disconnect Bill 2025', a groundbreaking move that challenges the toxic culture of being "always available." At a time when burnout, anxiety, and corporate fatigue have become part of everyday vocabulary, Kerala's bold step feels like a breath of long-overdue relief.

The bill was tabled by Kanjirapally MLA Dr. N. Jayaraj in the wake of a tragedy that shook the state, the death of 26-year-old Anna Sebastian Perayil, a young professional from Kerala working in Pune, who reportedly succumbed to work-related stress in 2024. Her passing forced a nationwide reflection on how invisible pressure and endless digital demands are eroding mental health.

The Bill That Puts People Before Emails

At its core, the Right to Disconnect Bill seeks to protect employees' right to log off, both literally and emotionally. It aims to ensure that no private-sector employee is penalised, reprimanded, or judged for refusing to respond to work calls, emails, or messages beyond office hours.
In simple terms, once your workday ends, it actually ends.

The bill doesn't just focus on digital boundaries. It also calls for the creation of Private Sector Employment Grievance Redressal Committees across districts. These committees will monitor excessive workloads, unpaid overtime, workplace surveillance, and employee well-being, issues that often go unreported in India's hypercompetitive job market.

For employees, this means more than just time off. It's a recognition that personal space, family time, and mental health aren't luxuries; they're rights.

Breaking Point That Led To Death

Anna Sebastian's death was a breaking point. Employed with EY Pune, the young professional's tragic passing in July 2024 brought national attention to the dangerous side of corporate ambition. Her story resonated with thousands who quietly endure 12-hour workdays, skipped meals, and relentless deadlines, all in the name of 'team commitment.'

Kerala's move is, in many ways, a tribute to every worker who's collapsed under invisible workloads. The bill carries an emotional weight; it's not just a policy change, it's a plea for compassion.

Why India Needs To Unplug, Now

India's work culture has long blurred the lines between duty and exploitation. With hybrid work and remote setups post-pandemic, employees are constantly tethered to devices. According to several reports, Indians rank among the most overworked professionals globally, clocking some of the longest working hours in the world.

This has translated into rising levels of burnout, depression, and sleep deprivation. For many, weekends aren't a break but an extension of weekdays, a silent reminder that work-life balance has become a myth.

Kerala's Right to Disconnect Bill arrives as a much-needed antidote. It acknowledges what most employees are afraid to admit: productivity without boundaries is not progress, it's quiet self-destruction.

Other Countries That Recognise Right To Disconnect By Law

Kerala joins a growing list of regions that have acted against work-induced exhaustion. Countries like France, Italy, Ireland, and the Philippines already recognise the right to disconnect by law. In France, employers are legally required to specify hours during which workers are not expected to engage digitally.

By introducing this bill, Kerala positions itself as India's first state to truly recognise emotional labour as part of employee well-being, a concept that's been overlooked for far too long in the country's corporate ecosystem.

While this is currently a Private Member's Bill awaiting legislative discussion, the implications are massive. It could set a precedent for national dialogue and possibly inspire central legislation.

The proposal's ripple effect is already visible; conversations around burnout, digital surveillance, and mental wellness are becoming mainstream. This can be India's mental health moment!

However, implementation remains key. For real change, the bill will need strict guidelines, corporate accountability, and cultural transformation, because no law can succeed unless workplaces believe that rest and respect go hand in hand.

If passed, this could be the start of India's biggest workplace revolution, one that finally lets workers reclaim their peace of mind. Maybe, just maybe, the next time your phone buzzes after 9 p.m., you can ignore it, legally.