The well-known “right to disconnect” is enshrined in several national legislations, including Belgium’s since 2022. But although the initiative is widely applauded, must we absolutely make use of it when we’re on holiday?
Catherine Hellemans, professor of occupational psychology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles defines the right to disconnect as follows: “First, there’s the notion of disconnecting from all internet-connected communication tools. Then there’s the idea of disconnecting from work itself—no longer thinking about work once your hours are done.”
In recent years—and especially since the pandemic—the importance of work-life balance has become increasingly recognised in our societies. To support this, the “right to disconnect” has been discussed and implemented in the labour laws of certain countries. Belgium introduced this right on 3 October 2022, through the Law on Various Labour Provisions, specifically addressing disconnection in the context of technology. Luxembourg followed in July 2023.
Still, it’s important to define what this right actually means. Catherine Hellemans, professor of occupational psychology at the Université Libre de Bruxelles, makes a distinction between two ideas behind the term “disconnection”. “First, there’s the notion of disconnecting from all internet-connected communication tools. Then there’s the idea of disconnecting from work itself—no longer thinking about work once your hours are done.”
Blurring Of Boundaries Between Work And Personal Time
According to Hellemans, the widespread adoption of remote work and the heavy reliance on digital communication tools have made it increasingly difficult for workers to truly disconnect, especially during rest periods like holidays.
“Remote work has made many aspects of the job invisible. In the past—if we exaggerate a little—people came to work, and then left work,” she explains. The result is a blurring of boundaries between working time and personal time.
“Especially since we’re now better equipped at home. Employers often provide a laptop, sometimes even a work phone.”
This leads to a situation where, as Hellemans puts it, “there’s some ambiguity around what is expected of the worker. It becomes difficult to know exactly what we’re allowed not to do versus what’s actually expected of us.”
This is where the right to disconnect comes into play: “It clears up a lot of ambiguities and particularly clarifies the relationship with the employer or direct superior—what they are or are not entitled to expect from us.”
The 2022 Belgian law states that employers are required to clearly outline—either in a collective labour agreement or in internal regulations—that workers have the right not to connect to professional digital tools outside of working hours.
Tell me what you do, and I’ll tell you if you disconnect
“On paper, it’s clearly a great idea,” says Catherine Hellemans, “but in practice, workers often face internal dilemmas when it comes to disconnecting during holidays.” Should you keep checking emails? Should you attend that important online meeting during your week off?
According to her, several factors influence a person’s ability to truly disconnect.
“Depending on the type of job and tasks involved, this right will be exercised differently. The situation differs greatly between, say, a shop owner who only works in person and a freelancer who depends on clients for their livelihood and must remain in near-constant contact.“
In other words: if your job is primarily done remotely and you’re accustomed to using digital communication tools, disconnecting will be difficult (unless you go on holiday and leave all professional devices behind). Conversely, if your job is entirely in-person, it’s easier to disconnect at the end of the day or during weekends.
For managers and high-responsibility roles, things are more complicated:
“The likelihood of being expected to check emails in the evening, over the weekend, or during holidays is logically higher,” Hellemans points out, as their responsibilities often require them to keep an eye on everything happening in the business.
“Some people think that if they stop checking emails for a week, they’ll be the first to go in a company restructuring”
So there’s a whole range of professionals who, due to the specific nature of their work, feel uneasy, frustrated, or stressed about disconnecting during holidays. But personal factors also come into play. Hellemans explains: “A young employee aiming for career progression may feel tempted to keep checking emails during their holiday to show how committed they are.”
Conversely, others might struggle to disconnect out of fear: “People worry that if they stop checking their inbox for a week, they might be first on the chopping block if there’s a restructuring.”
Company culture and respect for others
That’s why it’s crucial for companies to foster a culture that promotes and supports disconnection. The 2022 Belgian law encourages businesses to implement awareness processes highlighting the importance of disconnection and maintaining a work-life balance. Some companies have introduced automatic disconnection systems, making it impossible to access work emails after a certain time.
“Everyone is free to place the boundary where they choose—while still respecting others’ right to disconnect”
Still, Catherine Hellemans is quick to stress that checking emails on holiday or answering a client or colleague’s call doesn’t necessarily mean you’re a workaholic. “Everyone is free to draw the line where they see fit—provided they respect others’ right to disconnect.”
In short, the best approach is transparency: “Just let people know—’I’ll be offline for X days, okay?’” Inform your colleagues, your manager, and external contacts with an out-of-office message stating you won’t be reachable during a given period. That is, of course, as long as business operations aren’t jeopardised in the process.
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