LEGAL AND ETHICAL FRAMEWORKS FOR WORKING OUTSIDE THE EMPLOYER’S PREMISES IN SERBIA
The legal framework in Serbia is still not fully adapted to the specific characteristics of work performed outside traditional office environments, which creates challenges in several areas that have long been widely recognized, both in academic discourse and within the business community, such as the regulation of working hours and rest periods, the protection of privacy, and occupational health and safety.
The ethical dimension of remote and home-based work presupposes a relationship of trust between employers and employees, as well as clear yet flexible policies that safeguard the rights and legitimate interests of both parties. By introducing adequate regulation and by actively responding to and understanding emerging trends, Serbia has the potential to successfully integrate this model of work and enhance the well-being of its working-age population, which continues to represent the primary driving force of any contemporary economy up to date.
This paper offers both a theoretical and practical examination of the existing legal framework governing digital work performed outside the employer’s premises, viewed from the perspectives of employers and employees alike, as well as the ethical considerations—that is, the implications for the well-being and prosperity of all stakeholders involved in this form of work.
Keywords: remote work, home-based work, working hours, work breaks, privacy.
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