Digital Dependency: Majority of Australians Expected to Engage with Work Emails Off the Clock

Despite Australia's impending right-to-disconnect law, recent reports suggest that many Australians are still expected to engage with work-related emails and applications outside of standard working hours. According to a survey by people2people Recruitment, 56% of employees report this expectation, with a notable 77% stating it's implied rather than directly communicated by employers. Moreover, the survey reveals that 70% of Australian workers continue to use work-related digital platforms outside of official hours, with 25% spending over five hours weekly on such tasks. Catherine Kennedy, NSW Managing Director of people2people Recruitment, emphasizes the challenge of blurred digital boundaries in modern workplaces, highlighting potential impacts on employee well-being.

These findings coincide with the impending implementation of Australia's right-to-disconnect legislation, effective August 26 for most employers. This legal change grants employees the right to decline work-related contact outside of regular hours. Kennedy anticipates complexities for employers in managing flexible work arrangements due to this shift and stresses the need for clear guidelines on digital availability outside of work hours, leveraging technology to manage workflows, and fostering a culture that respects personal time and encourages disconnecting from work-related communications outside designated hours.