Right and obligation to disconnection

striving for working and non-working time

Abstract

What does “disconnection” mean? What relation is there between it and our analysis of time? And with the ongoing discussion about work time and non-work time? This article looks at addressing these issues and analysing present day perceptions of working time and non-working time, and more specifically the right to “disconnect” from work so as to be able to enjoy non-working hours. Considering time as a social construction, we will start with a historical approach of social time and then look at how, basing ourselves on worker’s perceptions, these concepts have morphed over the last few years. We will then see how different social groups have come together to debate the “rights and obligations” of disconnecting from work.