Do you have the 'right to disconnect' at your workplace?
Under the changes, to come into effect in July, employees will be able to ignore calls, emails or messages from their bosses after work hours, where reasonable, without fear of punishment.
The Albanese government's recent workplace reforms have left businesses in a state of confusion, with a flurry of legislation introduced over 14 months. The "right to disconnect" law, allowing employees to ignore after-hours communication without fear of punishment, has garnered significant attention. However, uncertainties persist regarding the practicalities of its implementation, particularly concerning what constitutes "reasonable" contact.
Another key change is the definition of employment under the Fair Work Act, potentially affecting independent contractors. The reforms aim to address loopholes and clarify employment status, with implications for backpay entitlements.
Casual employment rules have also been revised, granting casual workers the right to convert to permanent roles after a specified period. However, experts suggest that the impact may be minimal for most casual workers, with conversion processes likely to see low uptake.
The reforms also touch on bargaining disputes, gig economy workers' rights, and conditions for owner-driver truckies. While touted as progressive, concerns linger about practical enforcement and potential industry non-compliance.
Overall, the reforms signal a significant shift in workplace regulations, aiming to address longstanding issues and adapt to evolving work practices. However, their effectiveness and practical implications remain subjects of scrutiny and debate.
So what does this mean for your workplace?
I was thinking about this back in 2021 and wrote a LinkedIn article called "Do you have the right to disconnect at your workplace' please check out my practical tips in the article on how we can practically manage this!
Are your workplace technology tools making you more productive?
The digital tools that we use in the workplace such as emails, social media platforms and project management software are designed to enhance our output and productivity. Or at least, that’s how they are sold! I would argue, that the technology we rely on is reaching peak saturation levels and is now making us more socially isolated, less effective and “dumberer” – see what I did there?
How did that happen?
Do you often end up down a digital rabbit hole wondering how you got there?
Introducing Dr Kristy Goodwin, one of Australia’s leading digital wellbeing and peak performance experts. Kristy is a researcher, author, speaker and media commentator who provides science-backed solutions to optimise wellbeing and productivity in a digital world.
In this fascinating discussion, Dr Kristy Goodwin, educates us on some of the ways digital wellbeing is impacting our lives and how we can improve our overall wellbeing with some evidence based strategies. In this episode listen out for Dr Kristy Goodwin’s tips and advice on:
To connect with Dr Kristy Goodwin head across to https://drkristygoodwin.com/ and follow her awesome content on her social media channels – LinkedIn and YouTube . Be sure to download her e-book on Five Digital Productivity Hacks.
We've also had the pleasure of interviewing Dr Kristy, not once but twice and these are such a great listen and some of our most popular episodes to date!
If you need a quick sanity check on what you are doing for employee wellbeing, I welcome a call here .
Stay Well,
Tom
To discuss how Pinnacle Health Group can help create a safer work environment, click the button below to speak to one of our OHS Directors for a quote:
March Masterclass: 5 Step Guide to setting up your Wellbeing Calendar
it's time to execute a powerful strategy for your workplace wellbeing calendar! Our next Masterclass is a 5 Step Guide to setting up your Wellbeing Calendar and - once again - promises to be an interactive and practical session delivered by our National Health and Wellness Manager, Trent Marsh.
Rapid changing environments and return to the physical workplace have all been necessary and reactive responses to the events of the last 3 years - and only now are many workplace leaders finding space to map out employee wellbeing with any sort of structure.
After the reactive approach, many leaders are finding it difficult to know where to start, when it comes to mapping out a wellbeing strategy that is suited to the long-term, and one that engages employees towards better overall health.
And many of our clients are going through the process of planning their next financial year budget for wellbeing - not knowing what to include, how to deliver it, and how to measure success.
领英推荐
With that in mind, there is a strong need for workplaces to develop, communicate and execute a powerful workplace wellbeing strategy and program for 2024-2025 - so we will be running a masterclass on the 5 Step Guide to setting up your Wellbeing Calendar.
In this interactive and practical Masterclass, delivered by Trent Marsh you will learn:
This 45 minute Masterclass is interactive and suitable for people in HR, Health and Wellbeing professionals in large corporate organisations, government teams, those working in mid-tier businesses and even small business owners
We look forward to seeing you there!
Wednesday 20th March 2024 12:30 pm – 1:15 pm AEDT Get your FREE and exclusive ticket
Ep118 - Bjorn Billhardt and the 12 Week MBA
Joining Tom on the Well Workplaces Podcast, all the way from Texas is Bjorn Billhardt, the CEO and founder of Abilitie, a global leadership development company.
Bjorn is a pioneer in e-learning and business simulations, co-founded Inspire Learning in 2001. With degrees from the University of Texas and Harvard Business School, he's the brains behind "The 12 Week MBA," a book distilling essential skills from Ability's renowned program.
Bjorn shares insights from his book, offering a practical guide to crucial skills in today's business world. Discover the impact on professionals at Fortune 500 companies like Coca-Cola and Dell.
We also hear about experiences steering Abilitie, his unique insights into leadership development, as well as his vision for the future of leadership development, drawing from his work with top-tier companies.
About Bjorn
Bjorn Billhardt is CEO and founder of Abilitie, a global leadership development company. Prior to launching Abilitie, Bjorn co-founded Enspire Learning in 2001, an early pioneer of e-learning programs and business simulations. Bjorn holds a BA from the University of Texas and an MBA from Harvard Business School. A native of Hamburg, Germany, he came to the US as an exchange student in high school and now lives in Austin, TX with his wife and three young boys.
~
Resources
Meet the bosses insisting on five days a week in the office
An increasing number of employers are demanding a full-time return to the office, with only seven percent enforcing this in 2023 but numbers rising rapidly.
To ease the transition, some companies offer perks like social events and meals. ES Concierge & Co is one such employer, insisting on five days in the office for collaboration. Founder Mandi Ford believes office presence enhances productivity, citing improved communication and teamwork. Excite Technology Services CEO Bryan Saba also advocates for office work, emphasising the benefits of face-to-face collaboration and company culture.
While some flexibility remains, with options for partial remote work, many employers are enforcing mandatory office days. However, this approach has met resistance, with some employees quitting in response. Legally, employees are required to follow reasonable employer directives, favouring the employer's stance.
Catch up on our latest Well Workplaces Podcast episodes:
The Well Workplaces podcast is designed to create genuine wellbeing conversations in the workplace, sharing expert knowledge in a practical way.
Latest Articles on the Blog