While the idea of ignoring your boss may sound appealing, it’s not always a feasible option.
There are instances where employees feign ignorance when their manager sends a message outside of regular working hours, but this could lead to significant consequences.
Many of us can relate to the dread of receiving a late-night email notification just as we’re getting comfortable to watch a TV show, prepare dinner, or unwind. The intention is to “quickly reply,” yet this often reactivates work mode unintentionally.
However, taking a break is crucial. Distance from your boss, your email, and the constant notifications is not just a luxury but a necessity.
Properly disconnecting from work enhances job performance, safeguards mental health, improves sleep, and allows you to truly enjoy life outside the office. No one should be expected to be available round the clock.
The rise of social media has led to a generation where the boundaries between work and personal life have become increasingly blurred. Although constant connectivity has made collaboration more efficient, it has also fostered an implicit expectation in some workplaces for employees to remain accessible even during their downtime.
Surprisingly, not many countries provide employees with the ‘right to disconnect’ from work, which prevents employers from penalizing workers for not responding to communications after hours.
This might lead you to wonder: which countries offer such rights and how can you relocate there quickly?
In 2024, Australia adopted legislation granting employees the ‘right to disconnect’ from work. Before this, some European countries had already implemented similar measures.
According to the legislation, organizations cannot penalize employees for not answering calls or emails outside of working hours.
So, how does this legislation function? Employers and third-party clients can still reach out to employees after paid hours, but employees now have the legal right to decline unless their refusal is deemed ‘unreasonable.’
Australia’s Fair Work Commission defines what is considered unreasonable, taking into account factors such as the employee’s role, the contact method, the level of disruption, and other pertinent circumstances.
Here are some other countries with similar rights:
In 2017, France implemented a “right to disconnect” from work emails outside of normal working hours. Companies with more than 50 employees must negotiate acceptable contact times with staff representatives, with noncompliance resulting in a fine of up to 1% of an employee’s total pay.
Since 2022, Belgian workers can ignore work messages after hours. Initially applied to civil servants, this law now also covers private-sector employees in companies with 20 or more staff members.
Portugal’s “right to rest” prohibits employers from contacting employees after work hours. Employees are also entitled to at least 11 consecutive hours of night rest, during which they should only be contacted in emergencies.
In Spain, employees have the right to disconnect from work-related digital communications outside established working hours, promoting a healthy work-life balance.
Ireland has a Code of Practice on the right to disconnect, allowing workers to ignore work matters outside regular hours. Employers must respect this right and refrain from contacting employees after work.
Italy’s right to disconnect is centered on remote work. Telework agreements must specify rest periods and outline measures to enable employees to fully disconnect from work devices.