Australia to Pass Law Allowing Employees to Ignore Work Calls After Hours

Shakthivel Krishnaraj

4 min read

Updated On Feb 08, 2024

Australia to Pass Law Allowing Employees to Ignore Work Calls After Hours

Australia is on the brink of passing a groundbreaking law that lets employees say no to work calls and messages outside of their work time which aims to protect workers' rights and help them balance work and personal life.

The proposed law, called the "right to disconnect," is similar to laws in France, Spain, and other European countries. It stops bosses from expecting staff to be available all the time, even when they're not getting paid.

According to the Employment Minister Tony Burke, most senators support the law. It means workers won't have to do extra work without pay just because their boss contacts them after hours.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese explained that if someone isn't getting paid all day, they shouldn't be forced to be online and available all day.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese about Employees' overtime work calls

Also Read: Australia Announces Changes to its Immigration Rules

The new law is expected to be discussed in parliament later this week. It also includes rules to make it easier for temporary workers to become permanent and to set minimum standards for temporary workers and truck drivers.

The Green party, known for its left-wing ideology, was the initial proponent of the rule and hailed the passing of the bill as a significant victory. The Greens party leader Adam Bandt alleged that consensus was forged between the Labor party, smaller political entities, and independent members to back this legislation.

He also added that Australians work an average of 6 weeks unpaid overtime each year and alleged that there are over $96 billion in unpaid wages across the country’s economy.

Greens party leader Adam Bandt about Employees' overtime work calls.

Also Read: Australia's Migration Revamp: No Impact on Indian Students

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FAQs

1. What to do if an employee doesn't respond?

A beneficial approach is to engage in a direct conversation with them, clearly outlining the concern and inquiring about the reasons behind their lack of response to your communications.

2. Can your boss call you after work hours?

There are currently no laws in the United States that prohibit employers from contacting employees after work hours. However, a survey indicates that this practice may be deemed necessary due to its regular occurrence. The data reveals that a significant number of workers are contacted by their employers after hours at least once a week.

3. Is it legal to work 60 hours a week in Australia?

An employee's standard weekly work hours in Australia typically total up to 38 hours, unless an employer requests them to work justifiable additional hours. For further details, please refer to our Maximum Weekly Hours fact sheet.

4. What are the hour restrictions on your right to work in Australia?

In Australia, employees are generally required to work up to 38 hours per week or 7.6 hours (7 hours and 36 minutes) per day as their regular hours. Any work carried out beyond these hours might lead to overtime pay, increased remuneration ("penalties"), or the accumulation of compensatory time off for future use.

5. Is contacting employees after work illegal in Australia?

Australia is moving forward with a bill that grants employees the "right to disconnect," allowing them to refuse calls from their employers outside of their designated work hours.