Ramūnas Petravičius. Work after work and the right to disconnect

The concept of the 'right to disconnect', allowing employees to refrain from responding to work-related calls, emails, and messages outside of their working hours, on weekends, or during holidays, exists in a legal gray area. While working hours and rest periods are clearly regulated, this specific right is not explicitly defined at the European Union level.

Currently, there is no overarching legal framework for the right to disconnect across the EU, although discussions and initiatives are underway. Consequently, individual member states are responsible for addressing this matter independently.

In Lithuania, the implementation of protections for employees' right to disconnect is being navigated. This involves determining how to legally ensure that employees are not obligated to be available for their employers outside of agreed-upon working times. The question remains whether such specific regulation is necessary, given the existing frameworks for working and rest times.