Australia introduces 'right to switch off' for workers

Australia introduces 'right to switch off' for workers

In the digital age, where we are often overwhelmed by constant connectivity, something fundamental is now happening in Australia: a new law is coming into force that will allow millions of workers to “switch off” after work. This means that they no longer have to be available to their bosses and do not have to respond to messages or calls unless it is an emergency.

The so-called “Fair Work Legislation Amendment”, which was passed by Parliament in February, will immediately apply to employees in medium and large companies. The new regulations allow employees to turn off their cell phones after work. However, for smaller companies with fewer than 15 employees, these regulations will only apply in one year.

The meaning of the new regulation

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has highlighted this law as an important step for people's mental health. “We want to make sure that people who don't get paid 24 hours a day don't have to work 24 hours a day,” he explained in an interview with Australian broadcaster ABC. This legislation is seen as an approach to improving work-life balance, which studies show is worse in Australia than in many other countries.

The relevance of this reform becomes particularly clear when one considers that similar laws already exist in several countries. In France, for example, since 2017 larger companies have been required by law to give their employees the “right to switch off”. Such provisions are intended to prevent employees from becoming stressed and overworked due to constant availability at work.

Despite the general approval for the law, there are also critical voices from business. The industry association Ai Group described the reform as “hasty, poorly thought out and very confusing”. This could lead to both employers and employees being unsure about how to respond in certain situations, especially when a call outside of working hours is necessary - for example to get support for an additional shift.

In Australia, the law is intended to revolutionize work culture while promoting the mental health of employees. By protecting time off, authorities hope employees can better focus on their families and their lives outside of work. More and more people are realizing that mental and emotional state is crucial to the overall quality of life. Studies show that people who have a balance between work and leisure are more productive and happier.

In addition, the trend in other countries shows that national regulations on accessibility during free time are not only possible, but necessary in order to meet the demands of the modern working world. The Australian example could therefore serve as a model for other countries and regions that have similar problems in their way of working.

As far as the legal framework in Germany is concerned, employees here do not necessarily have to be available outside of working hours, as long as their working hours are clearly defined. However, there are exceptions, such as on-call services, where employees must be ready to work at any time. Managers are also often subject to contractual obligations that require them to be available outside of regular working hours.

dpa/AFP/kreis