Australia has introduced a “right to disconnect” rule, providing relief to employees who feel pressured to take calls or respond to messages from employers after work hours. The new law allows workers to ignore after-hours communications without fear of repercussions.
A survey from last year estimated that Australians put in an average of 281 hours of unpaid overtime annually. Similar regulations exist in over 20 countries, mainly in Europe and Latin America.
The law doesn’t prohibit employers from contacting employees after hours but gives workers the right to not respond unless their refusal is considered unreasonable. Disputes should first be resolved between the employer and employee; if unsuccessful, Australia’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) can intervene. The FWC can order employers to stop after-hours communication or, if an employee’s refusal is deemed unreasonable, mandate a response.
Non-compliance with FWC orders can result in fines up to A$19,000 ($12,897; £9,762) for employees or up to A$94,000 for companies. Worker organizations have praised the new rule, with the Australian Council of Trade Unions stating it will empower workers to reject unreasonable out-of-hours work contact and promote a better work-life balance.
