Australia has introduced a new law that allows employees to disconnect from work-related communications outside their working hours.

The new “right to disconnect” law aims to tackle the growing problem of blurred boundaries between professional and personal life, exacerbated by the rise of remote work during the pandemic.

Under this legislation, Australians can now legally ignore calls and emails from their bosses after office hours without facing any repercussions.

This move by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government is part of broader labor reforms aimed at improving work-life balance and mental health.

However, the law has been met with mixed reactions.

“Today is a historic day for working people,” said Michele O’Neil, president of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

She added: “Australian unions have reclaimed the right to knock off after work.”

But the “‘right to disconnect’ laws are rushed, poorly thought out and deeply confusing,” the Australian Industry Group said in a statement.

“At the very least, employers and employees will now be uncertain about whether they can take or make a call out of hours to offer an extra shift,” it said.

Australia’s decision follows a global trend, with countries like France, Germany, and Italy already implementing similar measures. For example, in France, the right to disconnect was codified as far back as 2017, and in some cases, companies have faced financial penalties for breaching the law.

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In the UK, the conversation around the right to disconnect is gaining traction. The UK government is exploring options for introducing similar legislation as part of its commitment to modernising workers’ rights.

Consultations are underway, drawing inspiration from models in Belgium and Ireland, where the right to switch off has been incorporated into national labor laws.

Although no law has been passed yet, the Labour Party has promised to address this issue in future employment rights reforms, particularly in response to the growing prevalence of hybrid work​.