Beginning on 26 August 2024, employees of businesses with 15 or more staff now have the legal right to disconnect, as outlined in section 33 of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth). It’s important to clarify that these new laws do not entirely prevent employers from contacting employees outside of work hours. Instead, they empower employees with the choice to engage — or not — with calls, emails, and other work-related communications outside their scheduled hours. For employees, this means they can lawfully refuse to be contacted outside of work hours, as long as their refusal is deemed reasonable. However, this new law introduces a layer of uncertainty for employers, as the interpretation of what constitutes a "reasonable" refusal may vary and lead to potential conflicts. Further details about the right to disconnect can be found in our earlier blog post here. Fair Work Ombudsman, Anna Booth, has stressed the importance of open communication between employers and employees regarding after-hou...
From today, employees of some Australian businesses have the right to disconnect
