ARTICLE · 16 JUNE 2024

Do Australians have a 'right to disconnect'?

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Recent amendments to the Fair Work Act 2009 expressly include a right for Australian workers to disconnect from work.

AustraliaEmployment and HR

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Smartphones allow us to connect with each other more quickly and easily than ever before. Although you may welcome this convenience of connectivity in your social life, what about your work life? New digital technologies are blurring the lines between professional and personal spaces, and employees are consequently experiencing higher levels of stress. Several governments and individual companies have implemented guidelines to help combat the growing 'always on' work culture. Most recently, the Fair Work Act 2009 ('the Act') was amended to expressly include a right for Australian workers to disconnect from work. This article explains what these amendments mean and the new obligations they create for you as an employer.

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