Bloomberg News
Glen Day employs 120 people at his chain of restaurants in Australia’s Gold Coast. Under the country’s new right-to-disconnect laws, he may have to think twice before contacting them after hours.
“It’s really a hindrance,” Day said, calling the regulations unworkable for employers in hospitality, where hours often run late and workers are rarely on a 9-to-5 schedule. “If someone calls in sick, you’ve got to ring around and find a replacement. We’re not supposed to bother them at home, but for us that’s impossible.”
The right to disconnect in Australia came into effect late last month for businesses with 15 or more employees. It came after the Australian Greens party won support for the legislation from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor government. It also underscores the global push by labor-friendly policymakers to empower workers who are constantly connected in the digital age.
Similar to existing French rules, Australian workers now have the right to refuse to respond to unreasonable after-hours contact from their employer. If the issue can’t be resolved at the workplace, the employee or employer can report the dispute to the Fair Work Commission. The regulator may impose orders on either party, with fines of as much as A$93,900 ($63,000) for employers who don’t comply.
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