'Right to disconnect': Australians will now be free to ignore bosses after work
Australia-right to disconnect
Australians are days away from being able to ignore their bosses outside working hours as the country has passed a new law to handle the work-related stress of employees.
The Fair Work Amendment (Right to Disconnect) Act amends the Fair Work Act 2009 and was moved through the Australianparliament in February this year.The law aims to protect employees who refuse to monitor, read or respond to contact from their employers outside work hours.
It will be implemented from August 26.
However, the "Right to Disconnect Act" allows circumstances where an employee's right to refuse can be deemed "unreasonable" depending on their role, the reason for the contact, and how it is made, along with other factors.
Meanwhile, in France, Germany and other European Union countries, similar laws have already been enacted which allow employees a right to switch off their mobile devices after working hours.
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Besides the pros of the new law, it also drew criticism from employer groups who called the legislation rushed and flawed.
What is "Right to Disconnect" Act?
The act originates from the recognition that modern technology negates the boundaries between work and personal life. With a remote work culture, employees find themselves engaged in work-related communications beyond their office hours, affecting their personal lives.
Moreover, this practice, which extended during the pandemic, has led to concerns about stress and exertion among workers.
Watch:Australia introduces ‘right to disconnect’ laws
However, the then Australian Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Tony Burke, defended the bill during an interview with the country’s public broadcaster, saying, "Some people are now constantly in a situation of getting in trouble if they're not checking their emails... Workers shouldn't be obligated to respond to messages during uncompensated hours."
While speaking to the BBC, Belgium Public Administration Minister Petra De Sutter, said that the current work culture was harming the population."The result will be stress and burnout, and this is the real disease of today," Sutter added.
(With inputs from agencies)