From Monday August 26, many employees in Australia get a new right, called the right to disconnect from work.
This entails the right to refuse to read or respond to work-related calls, texts and emails outside their working hours, unless that refusal is unreasonable.
The Fair Work Commission says what will matter is whether the refusal is unreasonable, rather than whether the attempted contact is unreasonable.
Among the things that will determine whether a refusal is unreasonable are the employee's role, their personal circumstances, the method and reason for the contact, how much disruption it causes them and whether they are compensated for being available or for working additional hours.
Those working for small businesses (with fewer than 15 employees) get the right to disconnect in August 2025.
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