The closure of workplaces in order to maintain physical distance and prevent the spread of the virus during the Kovid-19 epidemic made remote working into the center of working life in an unprecedented way. It is possible to say that after the epidemic, with the effect of technological opportunities, remote working models will be more effective in the working life in the longer term. Since teleworking does not fully overlap with traditional employment models, it is extremely important for the protection of the worker, such as deciding the place where the work will be done, determining the working hours and schedule, which works will be done in this way, which information communication tools will be used and supervisory mechanisms.
According to data from the European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions (Eurofound), almost four out of 10 workers in Europe have started working remotely as a result of stay-at-home orders given by governments during the global epidemic. Research on the shift of the ‘centre’ of work from the workplace to the home during the Kovid-19 epidemic shows us that the labor market of the future will be more hybrid. According to the recently published report The Future of Our Business After Covid-19, 9 out of 10 organizations have switched to hybrid work, which offers a hybrid model of remote work and workplace work.
THE LABOUR MODELS ARE IN CHANGE
According to the results of the research conducted within the scope of the country that hosts almost half of the global workforce, consisting of China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Spain, England and the USA, a significant portion of the companies have adopted remote working, continued to be productive in the remote working process, satisfaction increased, and employee satisfaction also increased, as it was possible to act more flexibly thanks to remote working. According to the research, another result of remote working becoming permanent will be the increase in the number of freelance employees without entering the company. However, remote working will not only affect the office / workplace environment, but also cause a change in the housing preference of the employees. In addition to the change brought about by remote working in office/workplace use, another important effect is that business travel will decrease as online meetings become widespread. According to research estimates, virtual meetings can replace 20 percent of business trips. This may also have knock-on effects for restaurants, hotels, airlines or other modes of transport.
‘THE RIGHT TO DISCONNECT’ AS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT
Many businesses from many countries, including Turkey, announced that they will continue to work remotely after the epidemic. At this point, employers and workers should regularly evaluate their remote working experiences in terms of the future working model. In this respect, the subjects to be evaluated are the nature of the work done, the usability of the office space, the preferred working styles, the availability of the option to work from home or telework, the right to disconnect, and the work-life balance… will come up a lot. This issue should be defined legally and an inspection and sanction should be regulated for violations of the right, taking into account the employee’s right to immediate termination. This issue should be evaluated within the scope of the protection of personal rights and the employer’s obligation to protect workers. In this respect, the subject must be regulated as a provision in the individual employment contract regulating remote work.
