The Number You Are Calling Is Not Available: A Qualitative Study on the Employee’s Right to Disconnect

Year 2024, Volume: 5 Issue: 2, 270 - 292, 30.07.2024

Fatma Zehra Yıldız

https://doi.org/10.54733/smar.1505325

Abstract

Right to disconnect is defined as not being directly or indirectly engaged in work-related activities or communications through digital tools outside working hours. The purpose of this study is to examine the views and experiences of employees regarding the right to disconnect. For this reason, the research is structured with a phenomenological design. The participants of the study are white-collar employees who work/worked in private sector enterprises in Turkey. In this research, people of different ages, genders and positions were reached through purposive sampling method. Within the scope of the research, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 people from different positions and sectors. The data analyzed by content analysis method are presented as themes. Maxqda 2020 Analitycs Pro program was used to visualize and present the data. Participants’ experiences of the phenomenon of right to disconnect, the means of reaching, reasons for responding, reactions and measures were identified as themes. The results of the study indicate that there are no established practices regarding employees’ right to disconnect within the institutions where the participants are employed. The most frequently highlighted method of out-of-hours accessibility reported by participants was the telephone. The constant accessibility of employees outside working hours is detrimental to work-life balance. Developing HR policies and an organizational culture to address this issue is crucial. This study aims to raise awareness about employees’ right to be disconnect during non-working hours.

Keywords

right to be unreachable, telephone, right to disconnect, e-mail

Ethical Statement

Bu araştırma, Tarsus Üniversitesi Etik Komisyonu’nun 2024/45 karar sayılı, 16/05/2024 tarihli yazısı ile etik açıdan uygun bulunmuştur.

Supporting Institution

Yok.

Thanks

Yok.

Aradığınız Kişiye Şu An Ulaşılamıyor: Çalışanların Ulaşılabilir Olmama Haklarına İlişkin Nitel Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Ulaşılabilir olmama, çalışma saatleri dışında, dijital araçlar vasıtasıyla işle ilgili faaliyetler veya haberleşmelerle doğrudan ya da dolaylı olarak meşgul olmama olarak ifade edilmektedir. Bu çalışmanın amacı, çalışanların ulaşılabilir olmama hakkına ilişkin görüşlerinin ve deneyimlerinin incelenmesidir. Bu gerekçeyle araştırma, fenomenoloji deseniyle yapılandırılmıştır. Araştırmanın katılımcılarını, Türkiye’de özel sektörde faaliyet gösteren işletmelerde çalışan/çalışmış olan beyaz yakalı çalışanlar oluşturmaktadır. Bu araştırmada farklı yaş, cinsiyet ve pozisyondan kişilere amaçlı örnekleme yöntemiyle ulaşılmıştır. Araştırma kapsamında farklı pozisyon ve sektörlerden 10 kişiyle yarı yapılandırılmış mülakatlar gerçekleştirilmiştir. İçerik analizi yöntemiyle analiz edilen veriler, temalar halinde sunulmuştur. Verilerin görselleştirilerek sunulmasında Maxqda 2020 Analitycs Pro programından yararlanılmıştır. Katılımcıların ulaşılabilir olmama fenomenine ilişkin deneyimleri, ulaşma aracı, cevap vermenin nedenleri, tepkiler ve önlemler temalar olarak belirlenmiştir. Çalışmanın sonuçlarına göre, katılımcıların çalıştıkları kurumlarda çalışanların ulaşılabilir olmama hakkıyla ilgili uygulamaların olmadığı ifade edilebilir. Katılımcıların en fazla vurguladıkları mesai dışında ulaşılabilirlik aracı telefon olmuştur. Çalışanların iş dışında iletişim araçlarıyla ulaşılabilir durumda olması ve her an işle meşgul olması iş-yaşam dengesini olumsuz etkilemektedir. Buna yönelik insan kaynakları politikalarının ve örgüt kültürünün inşa edilmesinin önemli olduğu düşünülmektedir. Bu çalışmanın, çalışanların ulaşılabilir olmama haklarıyla ilgili farkındalık kazandıracağı düşünülmektedir.

Keywords

ulaşılabilir olmama hakkı, telefon, bağlantıyı kesme hakkı, e-posta

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