Unplug Without Fear: Your Small Biz Guide to the ‘Right to Disconnect’
It’s 8 p.m., you’re finally relaxing — maybe with Netflix, a walk, or a well-deserved glass of wine — and then ping! Your phone lights up. Another work message.
Sound familiar? Well, here’s the good news: from 26 August 2025, small business employees now have the legal right to disconnect outside their working hours. Yes, that means you and your team can officially switch off without guilt.
What’s the Right to Disconnect?
The right to disconnect means employees can refuse to monitor, read, or respond to work contact outside their regular hours — whether it’s an email, a call, or a late-night text from the boss — unless responding would be considered reasonable.
This law already applied to bigger businesses from 26 August 2024, and now it’s extended to small business employers (under 15 staff) from 26 August 2025.
👉 For the official details, see the Fair Work Ombudsman guide.
What counts as “reasonable”?
It doesn’t mean no one can ever call outside hours, but it does mean you need to think before hitting send. Some factors include:
How urgent or important the matter is.
The employee’s role (a manager vs. a casual).
Whether the employee is compensated for being “on call.”
Their personal situation (family, health, commitments).
In short: urgent payroll crash? Reasonable. A “just checking in” message at 9 p.m.? Not so much.
Why this matters for small business owners
Happier team = better retention. Staff who can rest switch on sharper the next day.
Fewer disputes. Clear boundaries now can save headaches later.
It’s the law. If issues arise, the Fair Work Commission can step in to resolve disputes.
Making it work without stress
Chat with your team. What does “urgent” mean for your business? Write it down so everyone’s clear.
Set up smart tools. Use email scheduling and “Do Not Disturb” settings.
Agree on exceptions. Like emergencies or deadlines that really can’t wait.
Keep it fair. If someone genuinely needs to be on call, make sure they’re recognised for it.
At the end of the day, running a business is already full-on. Your phone shouldn’t be the one running you after hours. By setting simple boundaries and having open chats, this new rule can actually help your team be more productive, less stressed, and happier at work.
Need help keeping up with workplace changes and how they affect your payroll, rosters, or contracts? That’s exactly what we’re here for at Alluvia Financial. Let’s make compliance simple so you can focus on running (and enjoying) your business.