Australia has enacted new legislation granting millions of workers the legal right to “disconnect” from their employers outside of work hours, effective Monday.
The law allows workers to ignore unreasonable out-of-hours contact from employers and to “refuse to monitor, read, or respond to” such attempts unless the refusal is deemed “unreasonable.”
This legislation, akin to regulations in some European and Latin American countries, has been celebrated by unions as a step towards better work-life balance. Michele O’Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions, praised the reform as a historic victory for workers, allowing them to enjoy quality time with loved ones without the pressure of constant work-related communication.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese supported the reform, emphasizing its importance for mental health and family life. “We want to ensure that people don’t have to work around the clock just because they aren’t paid for every hour,” he told national broadcaster ABC.
However, industry leaders have expressed concerns about the law, calling it “rushed” and “poorly thought out.” The Australian Industry Group criticized the legislation for creating uncertainty about out-of-hours communications and additional shifts.
The new law, effective from February, applies immediately to medium-sized and large companies, with smaller companies (fewer than 15 employees) falling under its scope from August 26, 2025. It includes provisions for tribunals to determine the reasonableness of both employees’ refusals and employers’ demands for out-of-hours contact. Factors such as the reason for the contact, the employee’s role, and compensation for extra hours will influence these decisions.
France introduced a similar right to disconnect in 2017 to address the pervasive “always on” culture enabled by digital devices.
