Australia's Right to Disconnect: New Law Empowers Workers

Australian employees now have the legally protected right to ignore their bosses outside working hours, thanks to a new 'right to disconnect' law. The Fair Work Commission will mediate disputes, with fines for non-compliance. Similar laws exist in France, Germany, and parts of Latin America.

Australian employees now enjoy the legally protected 'right to disconnect,' a new law that permits them to ignore work-related communications outside office hours. This law came into effect on Monday.

While employers can still reach out to employees, staff now have the option to not respond unless a refusal is considered unreasonable. The Fair Work Commission (FWC) will arbitrate such cases, considering factors like the employee's role and the communication's nature.

Disputes should be resolved internally first, but if unsuccessful, the FWC can intervene. Penalties include fines up to A$19,000 for employees and A$94,000 for companies. The law has received mixed reactions: lauded by unions but criticized by employer associations as potentially harmful to productivity. Similar laws exist in France, Germany, and parts of Latin America.

(With inputs from agencies.)