In these countries, you have the right to ignore your bosses, but only during non-work hours.

• Now, Australia is among the countries that grant employees the "right to disconnect" from work.
• Under the new law, employers cannot penalize their employees for not answering their phone or emails outside of work hours.
• Australia's Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations, Murray Watt, stated that new laws will enhance workers' protections regarding workplace conditions, job security, and work-life balance.

European nations have mostly implemented the "right to disconnect" from work, and now Australia has joined the ranks.

Under the new legislation, organizations are prohibited from disciplining employees for not answering their phone or responding to emails outside of work hours.

Workers now have the legal right to refuse to respond to employer or third-party client contact beyond paid hours, unless it is deemed "unreasonable."

The Fair Work Commission in Australia will evaluate what is considered unreasonable, taking into account the employee's role and level of responsibility, the contact method, and its impact on the employee, among other factors.

Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt stated that the new laws will enhance workers' protections in terms of workplace conditions, job security, and work-life balance, while also preventing the exploitation of Australian workers' pay and conditions.

Some countries have granted their citizens the right to disconnect from work.

France

In 2017, France introduced a "right to disconnect" from work emails outside of work hours. Companies with 50 or more employees must negotiate with employee representatives to establish when workers can be contacted via electronic communication methods. If companies do not adhere to the rules, they may face a fine of up to 1% of a worker's total compensation.

The 35-hour work week is a major factor in France's reputation for having a highly regulated labor market.

Belgium

Since 2022, Belgium has granted workers the right to ignore work-related messages after hours, initially for civil servants only, but later extended to private sector staff in companies with 20 or more employees. Additionally, Belgium's employees enjoy a four-day work week.

Portugal

In Portugal, it is illegal for employers to contact employees after work hours, as per the "right to rest" law.

Employees are entitled to at least 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep during the night.

Spain

Workers in Spain are entitled to disconnect from work-related digital communications beyond regular working hours to promote a healthy work-life balance.

The National Institute for Safety and Health at Work launched a nationwide campaign to promote a healthier digitalized workplace, emphasizing employers' responsibilities.

Ireland

Ireland has established a Code of Practice that safeguards workers' right to disconnect from work-related matters outside of regular working hours. The code empowers employees to refuse work-related communications beyond working hours, while also imposing a responsibility on employers to respect their employees' disconnection rights.

All employment modes, including remote and fixed location, are covered by the code.

Italy

In Italy, remote work legislation requires that every telework agreement include designated rest periods and measures for employees to fully disconnect from work-related devices.

UK next?

Prospect, a union for professionals, found that almost 60% of employees in the United Kingdom are in support of the right to disconnect, according to a campaign they held last September.

In the UK, although there is no official right to disconnect from work, the working week should not exceed an average of 48 hours over a 17-week period.