Australia gives workers right to ignore bosses’ after-hours calls, emails

The country is the latest to pass legislation granting a ‘right to disconnect’ outside of work hours.

Sydney, Australia – Australia is extending its laidback reputation to the workplace by granting employees a “right to disconnect” when they are off the clock.

Australian workers on Monday gained the legal right to ignore emails and phone calls from bosses outside of work hours, unless doing so is deemed “unreasonable”.

The law is Australia’s response to the blurring of boundaries between people’s professional and personal lives amid employers’ growing reliance on digital communications and the popularity of remote working since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Australia’s centre-left Labor Party hopes the measure – introduced as part of a package of labour reforms that includes new rules for casual employment and minimum wage standards for delivery riders – will ease pressure on workers to monitor their phone when they are supposed to be relaxing and spending time with their loved ones.

“What we are simply saying is that someone who isn’t being paid 24 hours a day shouldn’t be penalised if they’re not online and available 24 hours a day,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said at a news conference introducing the legislation in February.