Illustrated News
Australia gives employees the right to disconnect
February 8, 2024
Summary
Australia will introduce laws giving workers the right to ignore unreasonable calls and messages from their bosses outside of work hours without penalty, with potential fines for employers that breach the rule.
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The "right to disconnect" is part of a raft of changes to industrial relations laws proposed by the federal government under a parliamentary bill, which it says would protect workers' rights and help restore work-life balance.
The provision stops employees from working unpaid overtime through a right to disconnect from unreasonable contact out of hours.
[https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-allow-workers-ignore-after-hours-calls-bosses-2024-02-07/](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australia-allow-workers-ignore-after-hours-calls-bosses-2024-02-07/)