World of HR: India’s culture of overwork comes into focus with potential new right to disconnect law

Work culture in India has come under increased scrutiny recently. In late November, Narayan Murthy, CEO of Bengaluru-based Infosys, called for young employees to work at least 70 hours a week, and earlier this month, a video highlighting the pressure on workers in the country went viral. Now, the country is responding by considering new legislation.

Where in the world? India’s parliament is considering a right to disconnect bill, the Times of India reported. The bill would prohibit employers from penalizing employees who do not respond to work communications during off hours, and would establish an Employees’ Welfare Authority to ensure compliance. Workers would also be entitled to compensation for working outside of “official” hours.

The Right to Disconnect Bill 2025 was introduced in early December by Supriya Sule, a member of India’s Nationalist Congress Party. Sule introduced similar legislation in 2019 that did not pass. It’s unclear if the proposed bill will pass, but it “has drawn significant public attention,” according to the Independent.

While some think the bill could help improve the country’s “toxic work culture,” true change will be dependent on employers, according to the Hindustan Times.

“Loopholes will continue to exist unless companies address the deeper issues, like unrealistic workloads, lack of boundaries, and poor time management practices,” Anisha Bhatia, a psychologist, told the Hindustan Times. “Employees need systems that are people-friendly, practical, and grounded in everyday realities, not just policies that sound good.”

Satellite view. Research has found that being “constantly on” and answering work calls and emails at all hours can lead to stress, sleep deprivation, and mental health issues. Overwork has become such a problem in many parts of the world that some governments have tried to address it with updated legislation.

Australia, Mexico, and several European countries have instituted right to disconnect rules over the last several years. The US has lagged behind. States like New Jersey and Washington have introduced similar legislation, but none have become law.

Some workplace experts believe US employers are responsible for creating a culture that encourages disconnecting. Others, such as SHRM and Shark Tank billionaire investor Kevin O’Leary, are against right to disconnect laws.

“This kind of policy is nonsense,” O’Leary said in 2024, adding that he should be able to reach an employee in the middle of the night if there’s an urgent matter. “If you can’t be reached when the job depends on it, you’re out…If someone tells me they’re in ‘silent mode,’ they’re fired.”