Guidance
Right to Disconnect (s 333M FWA)
Right to refuse out-of-hours contact unless unreasonable (from 26 Aug 2024).
In plain English
Employees can refuse unreasonable contact outside work hours. This right starts 26 August 2024.
The Fair Work Ombudsman (FWO) provides guidance on the Right to Disconnect. It applies to all employers and employees under the Fair Work Act. Employees can decline contact outside work hours unless it’s reasonable. Employers must consider employee requests. This guidance is current as of the Fair Work Ombudsman’s website.
Why it matters
This new right impacts how businesses manage communication. It requires consideration of employee wellbeing. Businesses should review communication policies before 26 August 2024.
AI-assisted summary, grounded in the source link below. Generated 2026-05-23 via gemma3:12b.
Issuing regulator
FWO →Topics
Source: https://fairwork.gov.au/employee-entitlements/changes-and-updates. Rules Mate indexes + summarises; always verify against the regulator's live publication.