What is Right to disconnect?
Payroll & people. A plain-English definition for Australian business owners.
The right to disconnect is a workplace right under the Fair Work Act that allows eligible employees to refuse to monitor, read or respond to work-related contact outside their working hours, unless the refusal is unreasonable.
Reasonableness turns on factors such as the reason for the contact, the employee's role and seniority, and whether they are compensated for availability. It does not prohibit after-hours contact — it protects a reasonable refusal to engage with it. SMEs should set expectations in writing; when the right applies to a business of your size is set out by Fair Work.
In a connected back office this sits with the People hub, where Valont runs award compliance, hr & ir advisory and employer advice line for Australian SMEs as one team. The full definition set is on the glossary.
Talk to an Advisor
General information, not advice. For how this applies to your business, talk it through with a Trusted Advisor or start with the Business Health Check.