Australia Implements Right To Disconnect, What Is It & 5 Other Countries Where It's Already Imposed

Australia's New Law

[{"selector":"#anim-9a5a1489-a451-42cc-9623-002361a32056","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f863df91-baba-4635-8e72-528706edb66a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 877.46039%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Australia has introduced a new law where work communication outside of working hours is prohibited. Credits: Unsplash

What Is It?

[{"selector":"#anim-4eb0cdd8-d123-4cff-8dd4-9d5e8c3b86b1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-394df130-9886-4fd5-a9e2-a9333bccdc58","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 876.03184%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Although there are exceptions, right to disconnect has been put in place to protect personal time of workers. Credits: Unsplash

Already Enforced

[{"selector":"#anim-7ab528fa-de1e-446d-8582-d5cc722f0c8a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-382cf87d-3801-4b16-8fcf-6aa5d096a24f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 1224.44525%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Following are 5 countries where the law is already enforced. Credits: Unsplash

1. France

[{"selector":"#anim-2cebed5c-c142-41a5-aa30-257846b7bcf5","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-35a45a36-c12e-4069-94a9-4ba1996140dd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 712.89908%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] France pioneered the concept in 2017, requiring companies with over 50 employees to negotiate after-hours communication policies. Credits: Unsplash

2. Italy

[{"selector":"#anim-3b37e1bc-5441-41d0-8ad7-ff04fb3499dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cc693f13-ec60-4cbf-a865-ae5286728794","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 893.07553%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It mandates clear agreements between employers and workers on technological tool usage outside working hours. Credits: Unsplash

3. Spain

[{"selector":"#anim-1c914844-756d-41a4-af26-1e04dda09c20","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-65cb7290-402d-48a7-a9b0-7d52c3cf37d2","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 705.93449%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Spain enacted legislation in 2021 granting employees the right to ignore work-related messages after their workday ends. Credits: Unsplash

4. Ireland

[{"selector":"#anim-a9d1d8ca-5ce3-4036-ace1-0860887bc197","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-72e97ea6-7a99-493b-bf87-79fa56b0cb3e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 580.58141%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Introduced a code of practice in 2021, giving all employees the right to disengage from work and refrain from communications outside normal hours. Credits: Unsplash

5. Portugal

[{"selector":"#anim-1cfbd77a-1e38-474e-b736-9ac3b764230b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-632290e9-5b2a-4695-934c-918fd33b59a4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 708.30137%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] It passed a law in 2021 making it illegal for employers to contact workers outside of office hours except in emergencies. Credits: Unsplash

[{"selector":"#anim-aa5d8134-11d1-4182-8717-30ba7d6d5dfd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5064798d-7049-47d2-b3ff-1a22c5456aff","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 1294.44529%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Do you think this law should also be implemented in India? Credits: Unsplash