Kyle Sandilands issues dire warning to Aussie employees celebrating new ‘right to disconnect’ laws

As a dedicated fan who’s seen the grind of countless jobs and bosses, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and skepticism about the new ‘right to disconnect’ laws. On one hand, it’s a long-overdue recognition of the need for work-life balance – something I’ve yearned for throughout my own career. But on the other, I can’t help but feel that unscrupulous bosses will find ways around these laws, just like they found ways to keep us chained to our desks long after the sun set.

Kyle Sandilands has given a heads-up to Australian employees with the upcoming enforcement of the government’s ‘right to disconnect’ rules, starting from Monday.

Starting August 26th, employees working for larger corporations have the right to ignore non-essential work calls outside regular business hours if they deem them as unreasonable.

During his KIIS FM Kyle and Jackie O morning broadcast on Monday, Kyle advised Australians anticipating the new industrial changes to curb their enthusiasm.

‘It doesn’t mean they won’t railroad you out behind the scenes,’ the radio host, 53, said.

Kyle suggested that although it’s against the law for supervisors to penalize employees for not working outside office hours under the new regulations, crafty managers might discover loopholes or devious methods to circumvent these rules.

‘Don’t think for a second: “Screw that real estate agent boss”,’ Kyle said.

‘Because eventually they will find a way to get rid of you to work around the boundaries.’

Kyle also urged all Aussie workers to not abuse the system. 

In other words, everyone knows the phrase, “I’m not obligated to reply due to legal reasons,” and when used, people typically respond with, “No problem.”

Having gone through a similar situation myself, I can tell you that it’s important to be mindful of the rules and regulations when dealing with systems like these. The consequences for even minor infractions can be severe and far-reaching, potentially causing unnecessary trouble in one’s life. So, approach such situations carefully and respectfully to avoid any potential issues down the line.

49-year-old Kyle’s fellow host, Jackie O Henderson, concurred with Kyle’s cautionary statement, expressing that receiving communications outside of regular working hours is a contemporary challenge they both face.

‘I feel like that might happen,’ Jackie said.

It seems to me that the reason for feeling constantly busy these days is due to the fact that work hours now feel endless. In my past, before emails and mobile phones, there was a clear boundary between work time and personal time because I wasn’t disturbed by work-related matters outside of office hours.

Kyle replied: ‘And nothing got done. It was the late 1970s. The world spun very slowly back then.’

Under the new regulations, employees are now guaranteed legal safeguards that prevent them from being compelled to answer non-urgent phone calls or emails during non-work hours.

Workers at larger corporations have the right to decline responding to non-essential, post-workday calls from their employer, especially when such calls are considered inappropriate or excessive. Failing to respond to a call becomes unjustified only under legal obligations that necessitate the contact.

In situations where there’s no legal obligation to respond, the reasonableness of addressing a call or email is typically assessed based on the employee’s role, the impact (disruption) of the communication, and whether they received compensation for being contacted outside of their regular work hours.

The Fair Work Commission is the port of call for an employee or employer to take a complaint.

If a company or an individual within it violates the regulations, they may face civil penalties amounting up to $19,800.

The changes do not prohibit an employer actually sending the email or message outside work hours.

As a lifestyle expert, I’m here to share some important news about upcoming changes in business regulations. Starting from August 26, 2025, federal laws will be applicable to businesses that employ 15 or more individuals. For those of you with smaller companies, there’s no need to worry just yet – you have an additional 12 months to prepare and adapt to these changes.

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2024-08-26 02:20