The right to disconnect: a growing trend

From now on in Australia, employees can refuse to respond and check their inbox if they are contacted outside of working hours, "unless such refusal is unreasonable". A right that also exists in other countries

In a world that is increasingly interconnected, our work often seems never-ending, filled with a continuous stream of emails and messages (often even on WhatsApp). This constant attachment, however, comes at a high cost to our mental health: never truly disconnecting can lead to considerable stress and anxiety over time.

How can we handle this? It wasn’t until the pandemic—when remote work became the norm and the concept of “never-ending work” took hold—that the idea of a true right to disconnect began to emerge. The European Union has recognized this as a “fundamental right,” meaning workers should be allowed to turn off work devices outside office hours without facing negative consequences for their career or salary.

A growing list of countries recognizing the right to disconnect

Gradually, more countries are passing laws to recognize the right to disconnect. The latest addition is Australia, where on August 26th, a law came into effect that allows employees to ignore work emails and calls received outside of working hours.

This new Australian law applies to all companies with more than 15 employees. While it does not prevent managers from contacting employees whenever they wish, it does give employees the right to refuse to monitor, read, or respond to work-related communications outside of working hours unless such a refusal is deemed unreasonable.

For example, a manager may send an email after hours, but the employee is not required to respond unless it is considered “reasonable” for them to do so.

Where the right to disconnect already exists

This type of right first took shape in France in 2017, where it became mandatory for companies with over 50 employees to establish guidelines for out-of-hours communication.

Other countries that have adopted similar laws include Belgium, Italy, Luxembourg, Spain, Slovakia, Argentina, Chile, Mexico, Ireland, and the Philippines.