Workers will have the right to ignore their boss after clocking off under new Australian laws - with bosses facing criminal penalties if they keep offending
Daily MailJAN 21 2024
Australia granted millions of employees the legal right to disconnect on Monday, allowing people to ignore unreasonable out-of-hours emails and phone calls from their employers.
Australia's Senate passed the legislation in February, making the reason, nature of work, and compensation key factors in deciding if contacting workers outside of work hours was reasonable.
The law has come into effect for medium and large companies. Smaller businesses with fewer than 15 employees will get the right on Aug. 22, 2025. Additionally, people who earn over $275K can't exercise this right.The law has come into effect for medium and large companies. Smaller businesses with fewer than 15 employees will get the right on Aug. 22, 2025. Additionally, people who earn over $175K can't exercise this right.
The right to disconnect will rid Australians of "availability creep," where employees are expected to work outside office hours. This trend, exacerbated by smartphones and remote work during COVID, has led to significant unpaid overtime and mental and physical health issues. The law will restore work-life balance and protect employees from unpaid labor.
This law will reduce workplace flexibility and productivity, potentially disrupting the existing consensus on workplace flexibility. There's also concern about the law's lack of clarity and potential negative impacts on employment opportunities and employer-employee relationships. For instance, who exactly will decide what is "reasonable" about a call or an email when made after work hours?