78% of Employees Prioritising: Companies with ‘Right to Disconnect’ Policies

As the new Right to Disconnect laws come into effect this month, recent polls conducted by people2people Recruitment reveal 78% of employees are more likely to work for a company with a clear Right to Disconnect policy. However, Australian employees and businesses have expressed concerns when it comes to its implementation and management.

The polls also revealed Australians’ main concern as employers will most likely be the difficulty to enforce such rules (62%), followed by the impact on work culture (15%), on productivity (12%) and collaboration (11%).  Suhini Wijayasinghe, Head of HR Solutions at people2people Recruitment shares her tips for both employers and employees:

Tips for employers to implement the Right to Disconnect:

1. Communicate, communicate, communicate! Ensure that your right to disconnect policy is clear and easily accessible to all employees, and ensure management communicates it on a regular basis.
2. Provide training sessions. Provide training sessions for management and staff on the new laws, emphasising the importance of respecting personal time and the benefits of a healthy work-life balance.
3. Lead by example, always. Promoting a culture that values work-life balance can’t happen if management doesn’t follow it in the first place. Encourage all employees to fully disconnect after working hours.
4. Monitor and adapt. Your first policies will most likely need a review as your company learns better ways to enforce the Right to Disconnect. Gather feedback from employees and be open to making adjustments that better serve the team.
5. Use technology wisely. Implement tools that support the right to disconnect, such as email or messaging systems that can schedule communications during work hours or automatically notify senders that recipients are unavailable outside of these hours.

Tips for employees to manage the Right to Disconnect:

1. Set your own boundaries. Communicate your working hours to your team and ensure that you stick to them. If you’re working flexible hours, clarify how and when you can be reached.
2. Respect your team’s boundaries. The Right to Disconnect will only work if everyone respects each other’s work hours. Avoid sending emails or messages to your colleagues outside of their work hours when possible.
3. Prioritise tasks. Focus on completing your most critical tasks during your designated work hours. Proper time management will reduce the need to work outside of these hours.
4. Take advantage of technology: Use tools like auto-responders or status updates to indicate when you are offline. This helps set expectations and reinforces your right to disconnect.

Suhini Wijayasinghe says, “The Right to Disconnect laws represent a significant step towards a healthier, more balanced work environment. While there are concerns about implementation and the potential impact on work culture, these laws also offer an opportunity to create a more respectful and supportive workplace. By taking proactive steps, both employers and employees can successfully navigate this transition and enjoy the benefits of a more balanced and fulfilling work life.”