Redefining work-life balance in Romania in the light of directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance and law No. 283/2022 and law No. 241/2023
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32978/sjp.2025.026Keywords:
work-life balance, gender equality, caregiving responsibilities, legislative reforms in Romania work-life balance, telework and flexible work arrangementsAbstract
This paper examines the impact of Directive (EU) 2019/1158 on work-life balance on the member states of the European Union, with a particular focus on Romania. It explores how recent legislative reforms, including Law No. 283/2022 and Law No. 241/2023, have sought to address systemic challenges in balancing professional and personal responsibilities. These laws, introduced as a direct response to the directive, demonstrate the EU’s significant role in shaping labor policies and fostering equality across its member states. The analysis delves into the key provisions of the new laws, such as caregiver leave, telework options for parents, and family emergency leave, highlighting their importance in aligning Romanian labor practices with European standards. Additionally, this paper provides an overview of existing Romanian labor code regulations on working time and rest periods, showcasing the legal framework’s evolution toward more employee-centric practices. Beyond legislative analysis, the paper identifies persistent challenges in achieving sustainable work-life balance and offers actionable recommendations to address them. These proposals include the potential introduction of the
right to disconnect as a mechanism to safeguard employees’ mental health and prevent burnout, alongside measures to normalize shared caregiving responsibilities and enhance workplace flexibility. By examining these developments, the paper underscores the progress Romania has made under the influence of the directive and situates this within the broader context of European initiatives to modernize labor markets. The findings highlight the EU’s pivotal role in driving meaningful reforms and fostering a labor market that prioritizes equity, sustainability, and well-being for all employees.
References
BLANPAIN Roger – HENDRICKX Frank – DE GROOF Sarah: Work-Life Balance in the Modern Workplace. Bulletin of Comparative Labour Relations, Volume 98, Wolters Kluwer, 2017, 51–68.
Gérard VALENDUC – Patricia VENDRAMIN: Work in the digital economy: sorting the old from the new. ETUI – European Trade Union Institute, Brussels, 2016.
Harold MEYERSON: Technology and Trade Policy is Pointing America Toward a Job Apocalypse. The original paper is Carl Benedikt Frey and Michael Osborne. “The Future of Employment: How Susceptible Are Jobs to Computerisation”, Oxford University, September 17, 2013, https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/harold-meyerson-technology-and-trade-policy-is-pointing-america-totoward-a-job-apocalypse/2014/03/26/ba331784-b513-11e3-8cb6-284052554d554d74_story.html, 1st of January, 2025.
LIPTÁK Katalin – MÉLYPATAKI Gábor – VALLASEK Magdolna – MUSINSZKI Zoltán: Munkaidőszabályok változása a rendszerváltás óta Magyarországon és Romániában. Erdélyi Társadalom 18 (2), 2020, 128.
Manfred WEISS: Digitalizzazione: sfide e prospettive per il diritto del lavoro, DRI, 2016.
Max WEBER: A protestáns etika és a kapitalizmus szelleme. Ábrahám Zoltán (transl). L'Harmattan, Budapest, 2020.
Orio GIARINI – Mircea MALITA: Dublă spirală a învăţării şi a muncii, Editura Comunicare.ro, București, 2005.
Paul M. SECUNDA: The Employee Right to Disconnect. Notre Dame Journal of International & Comparative Law Vol. 9, Iss. 1, Article 3, 2019. https://scholarship.law.nd.edu/ndjicl/vol9/iss1/3, 1st of January, 2025.
Thomas LESTAVEL: Les promesses très commerciales du “big data”, Alternatives économiques, 2015.
TÖRÖK Emőke: A banausziától a bérmunkáig – Változások a munka értelmezésében. Szociológiai Szemle 2009/4, 43–67.
VALLASEK Magdolna: Flexible working time from the perspective of women and the challenges of work-life balance in Romania, Revue Européenne du Droit Social, 2022, 69–77.
ȚICLEA Alexandru: Tratat privind timpul de muncă și timpul de odihnă. Ed. Universul Juridic, București, 2020.
https://ceelegalmatters.com/romania/24124-implementation-of-the-eu-directives-on-work-life-balance-and-on-transparent-and-predictable-working-conditions-romania, 1st of January, 2025.
TICHINDELEAN Mărioara — VOLONCIU Magda: Aspecte privind rolul muncii digitale în reconciliera vieții profesionale cu viața privată. Revista Română de Dreptul Muncii Ed. Wolters Kluwer, Bucharest, 2021/5, https://sintact.ro/#/publication/151022528?keyword=Tichindelean,%20Marioara;%20Volonciu,%20Magda:%20Aspecte%20privind%20rolul%20muncii%20digitale%20%C3%AEn%20reconcilierea%20vie%C8%9Bii%20profesionale%20cu%20via%C8%9Ba%20privat%C4%83,%20Revista%20Rom%C3%A2n%C4%83%20de%20Dreptul%20Muncii,%20nr.%205,%202021.&cm=SFIRST, 22nd of June, 2025.
OPRESCU Elena Daniela: Concediul de îngrijitor și problemele determinate de reglementarea necorespunzătoare a acestuia. Revista Română de Dreptul Muncii, Ed. Wolters Kluwer, Bucharest, 2023/3, https://sintact.ro/#/publication/151027972?keyword=Oprescu,%20Elena%20Daniela:%20Concediul%20de%20%C3%AEngrijitor%20%C8%99i%20problemele%20determinate%20de%20reglementarea%20necorespunz%C4%83toare%20a%20acestuia,%20Revista%20Rom%C3%A2n%C4%83%20de%20Dreptul%20Muncii,%20nr.%203,%202023.&cm=SFIRST, 22nd of June, 025.
ZARNESCU Valentina Lidia: Reflectarea principiului privind echilibrul dintre viaţa profesională şi cea privată în legislaţia română. Revista Română de Dreptul Muncii, Ed. Wolters Kluwer, Bucharest, 2023/5, https://sintact.ro/#/publication/151029375?keyword=Zarnescu,%20Valentina%20Lidia:%20Reflectarea%20principiului%20privind%20echilibrul%20dintre%20via%C5%A3a%20profesional%C4%83%20%C5%9Fi%20cea%20privat%C4%83%20%C3%AEn%20legisla%C5%A3ia%20rom%C3%A2n%C4%83,%20Revista%20Rom%C3%A2n%C4%83%20de%20Dreptul%20Muncii,%20nr.%205,%202023.&cm=SFIRST, 22nd of June, 2025.
