As workplaces prepare for the arrival of right-to-disconnect laws, new data reveals how many Australians are permanently tethered to theiremployment.
Almost half of Australian professionals (40 per cent) continue to engage with work when they are on holiday – including regularly or occasionally checking their work emails, recruitment firm Robert Walters found.
A landslide majority of 71 per cent of employees don't feel refreshed after annual leave, while 64 per cent believe they don't get enough leave allowance.
A large number of Australian workers check work emails while on holidays.(Getty)
The research comes as right to disconnect laws approach workplaces around the country.
The new legislation will grant workers the right to ignore unreasonable calls and messages from their employers outside of work hours.
Should an employee successfully raise concerns about after-hours contact, an employer in Australia could face fines of up to $18,000.
Similar legislation is already in place in several countries, including Austria, Chile, Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Greece, Ireland, and Italy.
Robert Walters ANZ CEO Shay Peters said there could be various reasons why people chose to stay connected with work while on leave.
For some, it's about avoiding the overwhelming inbox upon their return from vacation and the subsequent catch-up required, Peters said.
For others, the convenience of staying connected plays a role. Nowadays, with our addiction to phones and devices, it has become effortless to stay in touch.
The lines between work and home life have become so intertwined that they are merging into one.
Peters said the perception of a work-life balance had changed, as the findings about insufficient leave indicated.
The dynamics have shifted, and people are now concerned about work encroaching on their personal lives, just as they were once worried about the opposite, he said.
If companies want to remain competitive in attracting and retaining staff then they must adopt a culture that respects the boundaries between work and personal life.
This means setting clear boundaries between work and holidays and making sure employers respect these requirements.
Peters said the right to disconnect laws would be a boon for workers.
Whether an individual employee chooses to take advantage of this new legislation will vary, but I believe it will certainly discourage managers from contacting their staff outside of their designated work hours, he said.
https://www.9news.com.au/national/right-to-disconnect-laws-almost-half-australians-check-work-email-on-holidays/f0397586-377e-417e-b35f-f8a610a5ecd5
