Despite being mocked and voted against by Peter Dutton and the Coalition last year, the Albanese Federal Government’s right to disconnect laws are restoring work/life balance for finance workers.
It’s a simple reform, one that allows workers to refuse unreasonable contact outside their working hours – and workers across Australia are already benefiting from the protection and peace of mind it brings.
Peter Dutton has vowed to repeal this right if he wins the upcoming federal election.
As a finance worker, FSU member Allie Picot has experienced what she describes as “astonishing pressure to be present at work” during outside work hours. She says her right to disconnect has made a difference.
“During my time in a branch, I was provided with a work phone to contact customers and have access to Microsoft Teams and emails,” says Allie.
“This, however, became a tool to always stay connected – and not in a pleasant way.
“If I called in sick, I was asked to get in touch with my own customers, reschedule their appointments and apologise for my absence.
“This instilled a fear in itself of taking time off, as it still meant being present at work. If I took annual leave or even got a chance to take a wellbeing day, I would no doubt be contacted at least twice during the day to help the team answer questions.
“If I did manage to put my work phone away, and I refused to answer calls and messages on my personal devices, remarks would be made once I returned to work that they couldn’t complete or do something without my help.
“Guilt would set in for not being ‘one of the team’.”
Things have improved a lot for Allie, thanks to the new right to disconnect laws and her changing job.
“The new right to disconnect laws, in combination with my new role, means I don’t feel the pressure and most times I can leave work at work.
“My husband sees the weight off my shoulders, and I don’t ever worry when my phone lights up that I’m going back into work mode.
“Others who may still have a work phone, or who feel the weight of an understaffed department, can use these new laws to stand their ground.
“Any undue pressure can be immediately halted with, ‘it’s my right, and it’s the law’.”
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