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Telework and Women’s Perceptions on the Right to Disconnect—An Exploratory Study in Portugal

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  • Glória Rebelo

    (Dinâmia‘CET, Iscte-Instituto Universitário de Lisboa, 1649-026 Lisbon, Portugal
    Escola de Ciências Económicas e das Organizações, Universidade Lusófona—Centro Universitário Lisboa, 1749-024 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Catarina Delaunay

    (CICS.NOVA, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1069-061 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • Maria Fernanda Diamantino

    (CEAUL, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, 1749-016 Lisbon, Portugal)

  • António R. Almeida

    (Legal Department, Universidade Europeia, 1500-210 Lisbon, Portugal)

Abstract

Working in the digital age requires a discussion on the right to disconnect. Although it has previously been studied in association with the digital transition movement, the “right to disconnect” has gained relevance in a context of mandatory teleworking due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation has led some countries to legislate on the subject, notably Portugal, where the right to disconnect has been enshrined in labour legislation since law no. 83/2021 of 6 December. This article presents a framework of the literature on the right to disconnect, as well as a documentary analysis and an exploratory study carried out in Portugal in November and December 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey sought to assess the working conditions of women in telework, particularly about working time. This study stresses that the right to disconnect is linked to the organisation of working time and analyses the negative impact of technology on work, in particular the permanence of the electronic connection to work. The results show that the majority of women value teleworking because they have more time for themselves and their families. However, the women who consider that they have less availability for teleworking indicate that the main reason for this is not being able to disconnect from work. In the context of the digital transition and the expansion of teleworking in organisations and the generalisation of hybrid work, the study of this new “right to disconnect” becomes crucial.

Suggested Citation

  • Glória Rebelo & Catarina Delaunay & Maria Fernanda Diamantino & António R. Almeida, 2024. "Telework and Women’s Perceptions on the Right to Disconnect—An Exploratory Study in Portugal," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-17, October.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jadmsc:v:14:y:2024:i:10:p:261-:d:1499483
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Reinaldo Sousa Santos & Sílvia dos Santos Pereira, 2023. "For Telework, Please Dial 7—Qualitative Study on the Impacts of Telework on the Well-Being of Contact Center Employees during the COVID19 Pandemic in Portugal," Administrative Sciences, MDPI, vol. 13(9), pages 1-25, September.
    2. Allard Dembe, 2009. "Ethical Issues Relating to the Health Effects of Long Working Hours," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(2), pages 195-208, January.
    3. Seetha Menon & Andrea Salvatori & Wouter Zwysen, 2020. "The Effect of Computer Use on Work Discretion and Work Intensity: Evidence from Europe," British Journal of Industrial Relations, London School of Economics, vol. 58(4), pages 1004-1038, December.
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