Under the new law, employees can “decline to respond to” work-related communications outside of their designated hours.
On Monday, the Australian government enacted a new law granting millions of workers the legal right to “disconnect,” allowing them to ignore unreasonable work-related communications outside their regular hours. This development has raised concerns among major industries, AFP reported.
The law enables employees to “decline to monitor, read, or respond to” work-related messages outside of their designated working hours, unless such a refusal is considered “unreasonable.” This legislation mirrors similar laws found in some European and Latin American countries.
Unions have hailed the legislation as a major advancement towards improving work-life balance. Michele O’Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, called it a historic day, emphasizing that it ensures Australians can spend quality time with their families without the constant pressure of work-related communications.
However, the Australian Industry Group has criticized the law as being rushed and poorly planned, arguing that it may lead to confusion regarding out-of-hours communication and scheduling.
The new law, which was enacted in February, applies to medium-sized and large companies starting Monday. Smaller companies with fewer than 15 employees will be subject to the law starting August 26, 2025.
Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth has urged stakeholders to understand and implement the new right thoughtfully. She noted that tribunals could intervene if employees unreasonably refuse out-of-hours contact or if employers make unreasonable demands for responses. Considerations for what constitutes “reasonable” include the nature of the contact, the employee’s role, and any compensation for additional hours or availability.
The “right to disconnect” was first introduced in France in 2017 as a response to the pervasive “always on” culture driven by smartphones and digital devices.
