Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization

Marta Urbāne

doi:10.1007/978-981-97-0996-0_36

Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization

Marta Urbāne

Rīga Stradiņš University

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

Abstract

This paper addresses the urgent need for a unified EU-level regulation of telework, a topic that has gained critical importance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study introduces and operationalizes the concept of “decent telework,” which encompasses fair income, workplace security, social protection, and equality of opportunity. It also pioneers the discussion on “the right to disconnect” as a vital component of EU telework legislation aimed at preserving work-life balance. The research seeks to fill existing gaps in EU-level telework regulations by employing rigorous legal analysis and comparative research methods focused on EU policies and case law. The findings reveal significant inconsistencies in EU telework regulations, highlighting the need for harmonized legislation. This work holds substantial implications for the future of labor in the European Union. It serves as a cornerstone for developing a comprehensive EU legal framework for telework, balancing flexibility and fairness in a digitalized economy. The study's significance lies in its potential to influence future EU policy, ensuring that “decent telework” and “the right to disconnect” are effectively implemented at the EU level, thereby shaping the future of work in the European Union.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Corporate Practices
Subtitle of host publication	Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management : International Conference on Entrepreneurship and the Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023: Conference proceedings
Editors	Sebastian Kot, Bilal Khalid, Adnan ul Haque
Place of Publication	Singapore
Publisher	Springer
Pages	605-614
Number of pages	10
ISBN (Electronic)	978-981-97-0996-0
ISBN (Print)	978-981-97-0995-3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0996-0_36
Publication status	Published - 2024
Event	3rd Global Conference Entrepreneurship and Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023 - Pattaya, Thailand Duration: 15 Nov 2023 → 17 Nov 2023 Conference number: 3 https://eeeu23.gjem.press/

Publication series

Name	Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics
Publisher	Springer Nature
ISSN (Print)	2198-7246
ISSN (Electronic)	2198-7254

Conference

Conference	3rd Global Conference Entrepreneurship and Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023
Abbreviated title	EEEU23
Country/Territory	Thailand
City	Pattaya
Period	15/11/23 → 17/11/23
Internet address	https://eeeu23.gjem.press/

Keywords*

Decent work
The right to disconnect
Telework
EU
Digitalization
Regulations
Labor law

Field of Science*

5.2 Economy and Business
5.5 Law
5.9 Other social sciences

Publication Type*

3.1. Articles or chapters in proceedings/scientific books indexed in Web of Science and/or Scopus database

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1007/978-981-97-0996-0_36

Cite this

Urbāne, M. (2024). Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization. In S. Kot, B. Khalid, & A. U. Haque (Eds.), Corporate Practices: Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management : International Conference on Entrepreneurship and the Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023: Conference proceedings (pp. 605-614). (Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0996-0_36

Urbāne, Marta. / Balancing Flexibility and Fairness : Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization. Corporate Practices: Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management : International Conference on Entrepreneurship and the Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023: Conference proceedings. editor / Sebastian Kot ; Bilal Khalid ; Adnan ul Haque. Singapore : Springer, 2024. pp. 605-614 (Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics).

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title = "Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization",

abstract = "This paper addresses the urgent need for a unified EU-level regulation of telework, a topic that has gained critical importance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study introduces and operationalizes the concept of “decent telework,” which encompasses fair income, workplace security, social protection, and equality of opportunity. It also pioneers the discussion on “the right to disconnect” as a vital component of EU telework legislation aimed at preserving work-life balance. The research seeks to fill existing gaps in EU-level telework regulations by employing rigorous legal analysis and comparative research methods focused on EU policies and case law. The findings reveal significant inconsistencies in EU telework regulations, highlighting the need for harmonized legislation. This work holds substantial implications for the future of labor in the European Union. It serves as a cornerstone for developing a comprehensive EU legal framework for telework, balancing flexibility and fairness in a digitalized economy. The study's significance lies in its potential to influence future EU policy, ensuring that “decent telework” and “the right to disconnect” are effectively implemented at the EU level, thereby shaping the future of work in the European Union.",

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author = "Marta Urbāne",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2024.; 3rd Global Conference Entrepreneurship and Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023, EEEU23 ; Conference date: 15-11-2023 Through 17-11-2023",

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Urbāne, M 2024, Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization. in S Kot, B Khalid & AU Haque (eds), Corporate Practices: Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management : International Conference on Entrepreneurship and the Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023: Conference proceedings. Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics, Springer, Singapore, pp. 605-614, 3rd Global Conference Entrepreneurship and Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023, Pattaya, Thailand, 15/11/23. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-97-0996-0_36

Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization. / Urbāne, Marta.
Corporate Practices: Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management : International Conference on Entrepreneurship and the Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023: Conference proceedings. ed. / Sebastian Kot; Bilal Khalid; Adnan ul Haque. Singapore: Springer, 2024. p. 605-614 (Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution › peer-review

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N1 - Conference code: 3

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - This paper addresses the urgent need for a unified EU-level regulation of telework, a topic that has gained critical importance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study introduces and operationalizes the concept of “decent telework,” which encompasses fair income, workplace security, social protection, and equality of opportunity. It also pioneers the discussion on “the right to disconnect” as a vital component of EU telework legislation aimed at preserving work-life balance. The research seeks to fill existing gaps in EU-level telework regulations by employing rigorous legal analysis and comparative research methods focused on EU policies and case law. The findings reveal significant inconsistencies in EU telework regulations, highlighting the need for harmonized legislation. This work holds substantial implications for the future of labor in the European Union. It serves as a cornerstone for developing a comprehensive EU legal framework for telework, balancing flexibility and fairness in a digitalized economy. The study's significance lies in its potential to influence future EU policy, ensuring that “decent telework” and “the right to disconnect” are effectively implemented at the EU level, thereby shaping the future of work in the European Union.

AB - This paper addresses the urgent need for a unified EU-level regulation of telework, a topic that has gained critical importance due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study introduces and operationalizes the concept of “decent telework,” which encompasses fair income, workplace security, social protection, and equality of opportunity. It also pioneers the discussion on “the right to disconnect” as a vital component of EU telework legislation aimed at preserving work-life balance. The research seeks to fill existing gaps in EU-level telework regulations by employing rigorous legal analysis and comparative research methods focused on EU policies and case law. The findings reveal significant inconsistencies in EU telework regulations, highlighting the need for harmonized legislation. This work holds substantial implications for the future of labor in the European Union. It serves as a cornerstone for developing a comprehensive EU legal framework for telework, balancing flexibility and fairness in a digitalized economy. The study's significance lies in its potential to influence future EU policy, ensuring that “decent telework” and “the right to disconnect” are effectively implemented at the EU level, thereby shaping the future of work in the European Union.

KW - Decent work

KW - The right to disconnect

KW - Telework

KW - EU

KW - Digitalization

KW - Regulations

KW - Labor law

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DO - 10.1007/978-981-97-0996-0_36

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SN - 978-981-97-0995-3

T3 - Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics

SP - 605

EP - 614

BT - Corporate Practices

A2 - Kot, Sebastian

A2 - Khalid, Bilal

A2 - Haque, Adnan ul

PB - Springer

CY - Singapore

Y2 - 15 November 2023 through 17 November 2023

ER -

Urbāne M. Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization. In Kot S, Khalid B, Haque AU, editors, Corporate Practices: Policies, Methodologies, and Insights in Organizational Management : International Conference on Entrepreneurship and the Economy in an Era of Uncertainty 2023: Conference proceedings. Singapore: Springer. 2024. p. 605-614. (Springer Proceedings in Business and Economics). doi: 10.1007/978-981-97-0996-0_36

Balancing Flexibility and Fairness: Legal Implications for Defining Decent Telework in the EU in an Era of Digitalization

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Keywords*

Field of Science*

Publication Type*

UN SDGs

Access to Document

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