Australia’s new ‘right to disconnect' laws are set to commence next month.

Australian workers will soon gain the legal right to disconnect from work-related communications outside office hours, thanks to new regulations aimed at enhancing work-life balance. 

The Fair Work Commission (FWC) has detailed how these laws, part of the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Act 2024, will be enforced, yet concerns about implementation and potential confusion remain prevalent.

The regulations, set to be incorporated into industrial awards by August 26, allow employees to decline monitoring, reading, or responding to work-related contacts outside their contracted hours unless deemed unreasonable. 

This amendment comes after significant advocacy by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU). 

The draft terms published by the FWC also include exceptions for certain circumstances, such as emergency calls into work, changes in roster, or if there is an established usual arrangement. 

The right does not extend to those on-call or receiving an allowance for after-hours availability. 

A staggered introduction will see small businesses granted an additional year to comply. 

During this period, feedback from the public consultation will be considered. 

Interested parties have until August 1 to comment on the draft terms and guidelines, which will be published on the FWC website.