Australia Introduces ‘Right to Disconnect’ Law to Support Work-Life Balance

Australia has introduced a “right to disconnect” law that provides relief to employees who feel obligated to respond to work-related calls or messages after their workday ends. The new legislation permits workers to ignore after-hours communications from their employers without the risk of facing penalties.

A survey last year revealed that Australians typically work an average of 281 hours of unpaid overtime annually. Similar laws are already in place in over 20 countries, primarily in Europe and Latin America.

The Australian law does not prohibit employers from reaching out to employees after hours; instead, it grants employees the right to choose not to respond unless doing so is deemed unreasonable. If disputes arise, they should first be addressed internally between employers and employees. Should they fail to reach an agreement, Australia’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) can intervene. The FWC may order employers to stop contacting employees after hours or require employees to respond if their refusal is considered unreasonable. Failure to comply with FWC orders can result in fines of up to A$19,000 for individuals or up to A$94,000 for companies.

Worker advocacy groups have welcomed the new law, seeing it as a step toward enabling a better work-life balance by allowing employees to refuse unreasonable after-hours work contact. The Australian Council of Trade Unions praised the law for empowering workers and promoting healthier work-life boundaries.

Workplace experts believe the new rules will benefit both employees and employers.

However, reactions among employees have been mixed. Some, like advertising industry worker Rachel Abdelnour, see the law as a positive step towards reducing the constant connectivity imposed by modern work demands. Others, such as David Brennan from the financial sector, remain skeptical about its impact, particularly in industries where high pay comes with an expectation of around-the-clock availability.