DOI: 10.17072/2078-7898/2018-4-508-516

«The right to disconnect» as a response to the expansion of work during non-working hours: who will use it^*

Galina S. Pak
Doctor of Philosophy Professor,
Professor of the Department of Philosophy

Lobachevsky State University of Nizhni Novgorod,
23, Gagarin avr., Nizhni Novgorod, 603950, Russia;
e-mail: galinapak5@gmail.com
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1317-079X

Timur M. Khusyainov
Lecturer of the Department of Social Sciences

National Research University Higher School of Economics in Nizhny Novgorod,
25/12, Bolshaya Pecherskaya str., Nizhni Novgorod, 603155, Russia;
e-mail: timur@husyainov.ru
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7193-6410

In the conditions of the world wide web, modern information and communication technologies, professional activity has penetrated into the non-working hours and the private life of an employee. The modern trend of protection of the «Right to disconnect» in foreign labor legislation attracts attention of modern researchers. The right gives an employee an opportunity not to respond to messages and calls related to work during his non-working hours. Similar rules exist in France and Germany and are being formed in the United States. However, the modern «Risk Society» leaves its imprint, and not every person has the opportunity to use his «Right to disconnect», being forced to agree to any conditions, including precariat. Concerning is the fact that not every employee is ready to refuse from the «Connection», because he wants to continue working during non-working hours for various reasons. Motivation depends on what sense an individual implies in his actions. In modern Russia, the «right to disconnect» is analyzed in the context of life purpose strategies. Employment is characterized today as atypical, premature, unstable. In these conditions, a person’s intention of self-improvement, laid down by the era of modernity, during «the turbulent times» turns into constant movement, a state «in between». The research shows that for a transitional individual and a follower of the morality of success, the «right to disconnect» does not fit into their life strategies. A «barbarian», for whom work is an obligation, dreams of «the right to disconnect». For creative individuals, «the right to disconnect» is a necessary condition for their creative being. The future of mankind depends on the ratio of «barbarians» and «creators».

Keywords: non-working time, working hours, right to disconnect, informatization of labor relations, practical philosophy, transient ethics, moralityof success, creativity.

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Received 19.10.2018

For citation:

Pak G.S., Khusyainov T.M. «The right to disconnect» as a response to the expansion of work during non-working hours: who will use it // Perm University Herald. Series «Philosophy. Psychology. Sociology». 2018. Iss. 4. P. 508–516. DOI: 10.17072/2078-7898/2018-4-508-516

 

* Исследование выполнено при финансовой поддержке РФФИ в рамках научного проекта № 18-011-00335 «Коэволюция естественного и искусственного как условие сохранения жизненного мира человека».