Australia: 'Right to Disconnect' From Work Introduced

Published AUG 26 2024

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The Spin

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.

The University of Sydney

This law will reduce workplace productivity, potentially by disrupting the existing consensus on workplace flexibility. There are concerns about the law's lack of clarity, as well as its potential negative impacts on employment opportunities and employer-employee relationships.

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Metaculus Prediction

There's a 50% chance that the average American employee will work at least 31.2 hours per week in 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.