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

A new “right to disconnect” law has come into effect in Australia, providing relief to workers who feel pressured to take calls or respond to messages from their employers after work hours. The law allows employees to ignore after-hours communication if they choose, without the fear of facing any consequences from their bosses.

A survey from last year found that Australians work an average of 281 hours of unpaid overtime annually. Over 20 countries, mostly in Europe and Latin America, have similar rules.

The law does not prevent employers from contacting their employees after hours, but it gives workers the right not to respond unless their refusal is considered unreasonable. If disputes arise, employers and employees are encouraged to resolve them independently. If that fails, the Fair Work Commission (FWC) can step in to mediate.

The FWC has the authority to order employers to stop contacting employees outside work hours. If it deems an employee’s refusal to respond as unreasonable, it can order them to reply. Non-compliance with FWC orders can lead to fines of up to A$19,000 ($12,897; £9,762) for employees or A$94,000 for companies.

Workers’ organizations have welcomed the new law. The Australian Council of Trade Unions stated that the law “will empower workers to refuse unreasonable out-of-hours work contact and enable greater work-life balance.”