‘Disorganised’ Management No Excuse for After-Hours Contact, Union Argues

The bill has faced pushback from business groups, which argued the change would add more ‘complexity, conflict, and rigidity’ to the workplaces.

Office workers are seen at lunch break at Martin Place in Sydney, Australia Dec. 12, 2018. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

The union has called on the Albanese government to “hold employers accountable” for proper staffing and planning to minimise out-of-hours contact.

The right to disconnect laws passed by the Albanese government as part of its industrial relations bill will come into effect from Aug. 26, or a year later for small businesses. It was recently legislated through the Fair Work Legislation Amendment (Closing Loopholes No. 2) Bill 2023.