Eurofound Talks
Eurofound Talks
Епизод на подкаст
Episode 20
14 April 2024

Is it a right to disconnect?

In this episode of Eurofound Talks Mary McCaughey speaks with Eurofound Research Manager Tina Weber about new research on the right to disconnect, the evolution of the right to disconnect in Europe, the reasons why legislative and procedural actions are being called for, the impacts that effective right to disconnect policies can have, and what the debate indicates about the post-pandemic world of work.

The COVID-19 pandemic had multiple impacts on society, but perhaps one of the most enduring in terms of the world of work has been the proliferation of telework. Around one-third of jobs in the EU are teleworkable, and an estimated 40 million people telework on a regular basis. While most workers who can telework have embraced it, there have been notable impacts on work-life balance, stress and other psychological risks. This has given rise to calls for a right to disconnect.

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Mary McCaughey

Head of Unit
Information and Communication

Мери МакКоги е ръководител на отдел "Информация и комуникации" в Eurofound. Завършила Тринити Колидж в Дъблин и Колежа на Европа в Брюж, тя започва работа в Брюксел с Europolitics и Wall Street Journal Europe. Работи с Асоциацията на европейските парламентаристи с Африка (AWEPA) в Южна Африка по време на прехода на страната към демокрация, а през 1998 г. заема поста говорител на Делегацията на Европейския съюз в Претория, оглавявайки нейния отдел за пресата и информация по време на преговорите по споразумението за свободна търговия между ЕС и Южна Африка. След края на войната в Косово работи като консултант по комуникациите за Европейската агенция за възстановяване в Сърбия. През 2003 г. тя поема поста главен редактор на Eurofound.

Tina Weber

Senior research manager
Working life research

Tina Weber is a senior research manager in Eurofound’s Working Life unit. Her work has focused on labour shortages, the impact of hybrid work and an ‘always on’ culture and the right to disconnect, working conditions and social protection measures for self-employed workers and the impact of the twin transitions on employment, working conditions and industrial relations. She is responsible for studies assessing the representativeness of European social partner organisations. She has also carried out research on European Works Councils and the evolution of industrial relations and social dialogue in the European Union. Prior to joining Eurofound in 2019, she worked for a private research institute primarily carrying out impact assessments and evaluations of EU labour law and labour market policies. Tina holds a PhD in Political Sciences from the University of Edinburgh which focussed on the role of national trade unions and employers’ organisations in the European social dialogue.

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Епизод на подкаст
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Психичното здраве в Европа е на критичен кръстопът. Въпреки че някои показатели се подобриха след пандемията, нов доклад на Eurofound разкрива тревожни тенденции, включително тревожно спиране на десетилетния спад на броя на самоубийствата. В този епизод на Eurofound Talks Мери МакКохи разговаря със старши изследователския мениджър Ханс Дюбоа по този сложен проблем, подчертавайки, че лошото психично здраве засяга непропорционално уязвимите групи.

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Mary McCaughey
Dragoș Adăscăliței
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European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions
The tripartite EU agency providing knowledge to assist in the development of better social, employment and work-related policies