Eurofound Talks
Eurofound Talks
Epizoda podcastu
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.

Listen to this episode

You can listen to this episode below or on the podcast platform of your choice.

Mary McCaughey

Head of Unit
Information and Communication

Mary McCaugheyová je vedoucí oddělení informací a komunikace v nadaci Eurofound. Vystudovala Trinity College v Dublinu a College of Europe v Bruggách, v Bruselu začala pracovat pro Europolitics a Wall Street Journal Europe. Spolupracovala s Asociací poslanců Evropského parlamentu s Afrikou (AWEPA) v Jihoafrické republice během přechodu země k demokracii a v roce 1998 nastoupila na post mluvčí Delegace Evropské unie v Pretorii, kde vedla tiskové a informační oddělení během jednání o dohodě o volném obchodu mezi EU a Jihoafrickou republikou. Po skončení války v Kosovu pracovala jako komunikační konzultantka pro Evropskou agenturu pro obnovu v Srbsku. V roce 2003 nastoupila na pozici šéfredaktorky nadace 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.

Recently published episode

Epizoda podcastu
Episode 36
10 November 2025
Je duševní zdraví Evropy stále v krizi?

Duševní zdraví v Evropě se nachází na kritické křižovatce. I když se některé ukazatele od pandemie zlepšily, nová zpráva nadace Eurofound odhaluje znepokojivé trendy, včetně znepokojivého zastavení desetiletí trvajícího poklesu počtu sebevražd. V této epizodě pořadu Eurofound Talks hovoří Mary McCaugheyová s vedoucím výzkumným manažerem Hansem Duboisem o tomto složitém problému a zdůrazňuje, že špatné duševní zdraví neúměrně postihuje zranitelné skupiny.

photo_donut
Mary McCaughey
Dragoș Adăscăliței
Icon
Flag of the European UnionThis website is an official website of the European Union.
How do I know?
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