No More Boss Calls After 5 PM: Australia’s Bold New ‘Right to Disconnect’ Law Changes the Game for Workers

There will be no more overtime. A new law, the “Right to Disconnect,” has been enacted.

The BBC reported, “A ‘right to disconnect’ rule has come into effect in Australia, offering relief to people who feel forced to take calls or read messages from employers after they finish their day’s work.” As a result, employees in Australia no longer have to respond to phone calls or emails from their bosses after work hours.

The new law permits employees to ignore communications outside of work hours without the risk of punishment from their employers. However, there are exceptions in emergencies or if the employee has irregular working hours.

The Australian Fair Work Commission (FWC) in Australia will determine the validity of employees refusing contact under this law. The BBC noted, “Under the rules, employers and employees should try to resolve their disputes. If that is unsuccessful in finding a resolution, Australia’s Fair Work Commission (FWC) can step in.” If the FWC finds that an employer has violated the law or that an employee has made a false report, the employee could face fines of up to 19,000 AUD (approx.13,000 USD), while the employer or business could be fined up to 94,000 AUD (approx. 64,000 USD).

The Australian Council of Trade Unions welcomed the new law: “It will empower workers to refuse unreasonable out-of-hours work contact and enable greater work-life balance.”

Conversely, the Australian Industry Group, representing employers, opposed the measure.

The organization criticized the law for lacking sufficient consultation with employers before its creation and for providing no time for preparation. They described it as sudden and unexpected. The group argued that the law’s vagueness could confuse workers and employers and potentially cause adverse effects in various areas, including the work environment.

The BBC reported that “there was a mixed reaction to the new law from employees,” noting that while some employees support the law, many believe it will have little practical impact.