Eurofound Talks
Eurofound Talks
Epizoda podcasta
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 McCaughey voditeljica je odjela za informiranje i komunikaciju u Eurofoundu. Diplomirala je na Trinity Collegeu u Dublinu i College of Europe u Brugesu, a počela je raditi u Bruxellesu za Europolitics i Wall Street Journal Europe. Surađivala je s Udrugom europskih parlamentaraca s Afrikom (AWEPA) u Južnoj Africi tijekom tranzicije zemlje u demokraciju, a 1998. preuzela je dužnost glasnogovornice Delegacije Europske unije u Pretoriji, na čelu njezina odjela za tisak i informiranje tijekom pregovora o sporazumu o slobodnoj trgovini između EU-a i Južne Afrike. Nakon završetka rata na Kosovu radila je kao savjetnica za komunikacije u Europskoj agenciji za obnovu u Srbiji. Dužnost glavne urednice Eurofounda preuzela je 2003.

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 podcasta
Episode 36
10 November 2025
Je li mentalno zdravlje Europe još uvijek u krizi?

Mentalno zdravlje u Europi nalazi se na kritičnom raskrižju. Iako su se neki pokazatelji poboljšali od pandemije, novo izvješće Eurofounda otkriva zabrinjavajuće trendove, uključujući alarmantno zaustavljanje desetljećima dugog pada stope samoubojstava. U ovoj epizodi Eurofoundovih razgovora Mary McCaughey razgovara s višim voditeljem istraživanja Hansom Duboisom o ovom složenom problemu, ističući da loše mentalno zdravlje nesrazmjerno pogađa ranjive skupine.

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