Workers in Australia can now legally ignore work calls, emails after office hours

Australian employees now have the legal right to ignore work emails and calls outside of their work hours, thanks to a new “right to disconnect” law.

Effective Monday, this rule prevents most employers from punishing workers who don’t respond after hours.

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Supporters argue that the law empowers employees to push back against the encroachment of work into their personal lives, a problem that has worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic blurred the lines between home and work.

In 2023, Australians worked an average of 281 hours of unpaid overtime, highlighting the need for such protections.