Home Office and Women: Benefits, Challenges, and the Right to Disconnect in the Remote Work Environment

Abstract

Telework, formally incorporated into the Brazilian legal framework through the 2017 Labor Reform, has undergone exponential expansion as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, consolidating itself as a widely adopted modality by various organizations. The present study examines the benefits and challenges arising from this work arrangement, with particular attention to the specific impacts on female workers, notably concerning professional and domestic overload, as well as the effectiveness of the right to disconnect. Grounded in national labor legislation and international norms, the study employs a qualitative and exploratory methodology, anchored in legislative analysis and empirical data derived from recent research on the subject. The findings indicate that, although telework enhances functional autonomy and reduces operational costs for employers, it also intensifies gender inequalities, undermines the separation between professional and personal life, and complicates the oversight of working conditions. The research contributes to a critical reflection on the necessity of normative improvements and the implementation of effective mechanisms for the protection of workers, particularly regarding the right to rest and the regulation of working hours. The originality of the study lies in its articulation between existing legal frameworks and the practical challenges faced by women in remote work environments, underscoring the need for more precise regulation to safeguard fundamental rights.