VOlUME 05 ISSUE 03 March 2026
1Chung Chung Han, 2Chi-Hsin Wu
1Department of Labor Relations, National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan
2Department of Labor Relations, National Chung Cheng University, Taiwan
DOI : https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i3n06Google Scholar Download Pdf
ABSTRACT
This study investigates the impact of the right to disconnect on job stress and satisfaction among part-time research assistants in Taiwan. As digital devices increasingly intrude on personal time, employees experience physical and mental erosion due to persistent work pressure. Implementing the right to disconnect is a crucial policy tool for protecting mental health and promoting work-life balance. Research indicates that short periods of voluntary disconnection yield significant benefits for both physical and mental health. Conversely, constant work connections across office and home environments exacerbate occupational strain. Analysis of company-level policies demonstrates that formalizing these rights is associated with markedly higher job satisfaction and can effectively mitigate the intention to leave. By examining the unique dual status of student assistants, this paper identifies blurred boundaries between academic growth and labor tasks as primary stressors. The research proposes a three-tier time model—working, on-call, and private—to clarify these boundaries. This structured approach ensures that assistants can effectively recharge, thereby reducing burnout and fostering a more sustainable academic research environment.
KEYWORDS:Right to Disconnect, Part-time Project Assistants, Job Stress, Job Satisfaction, Labor Rights
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Cite this Article:Han, C. C., & Wu, C. H. (2026). The Impact of the Right to Disconnect on Job Stress and Job Satisfaction: A Case Study of Part-Time Research Assistants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL SCIENCE HUMANITY & MANAGEMENT RESEARCHS, 5(3), 472-483. https://doi.org/10.58806/ijsshmr.2026.v5i3n06