We need the right to switch off and clock off.

We call on the Federal Government to legislate the right to disconnect to ensure limits around working times are fundamental for all workers, to end unpaid overtime, to protect workers from negative consequences for refusing contact outside of working hours, and to safeguard people from being pressured to be constantly connected or available to their employers.

Balancing work and home life is essential for everyone. We all want to work hard and feel rewarded in our jobs, but we also need to spend quality time with family and friends, care for our loved ones, enjoy hobbies, exercise, and rest.

But for too many people, the work-life balance is off.

Unpaid overtime, contact after hours, excessive workloads and understaffing are systemic issues for many workers. With constant email and phone notifications, an expectation to always be switched on, and blurring boundaries between work and home life, finding the work-life balance is harder than ever.

• 82% of workers in Australia are frequently working outside their scheduled hours.
• 2 in 3 workers are regularly contacted by their employer outside of their working hours.
• Workers are completing an average of 4.6 hours of unpaid overtime each week. That’s $460 of unpaid overtime a fortnight!

It is vital that workers can switch off from work and be properly paid for their hours worked – that includes being paid to be available to respond to work-related calls and emails.

We need the right to clock off and switch off.
• The right to disconnect is becoming a reality across the world – in France, Spain, Canada, Argentina and Ireland.
• 84% of workers support the Federal Government legislating for the right to disconnect.

It’s time for Australia to act.