If given the chance to choose between the beach or the office, Australians would likely choose the first. Now that a new law, “the right to disconnect,” has been approved, they can do just that. Americans, on the other hand, may still be answering the boss’ calls at midnight for now.
Last Thursday, the Australian senate passed a bill that would grant employees the right to ignore “unreasonable” calls and messages from their employers outside of working hours, with fines for businesses that break the code. Australia is not the first nation to have such a law; French, Italian and Philippino workers already enjoy that freedom. US workers are not in that fortunate group.
While these benefits may seem like a far-off fantasy to many Americans, similar laws and regulations exist across the globe. In Italy, workers may also take around 4 weeks of paid annual leave, while new parents may take up to around 21 weeks of paid parental leave. Meanwhile, in France, one of the inaugural nations of the right to disconnect, employees are given roughly 4 weeks of paid leave annually, 16 weeks of paid maternity leave, and a minimum wage of roughly €11.65 (USD 12.56) an hour.
The bill is just another addition to the list of labor law changes coming to Australia, and according to Reuters, is “part of a raft of changes to industrial relations laws proposed by the federal government under a parliamentary bill,” which aim to “protect workers rights and help restore work-life balance.” Australia, deemed the “workingman’s paradise,” is already home to some of the “best-rested and most personally fulfilled employees” and boasts several workplace benefits, including up to 4 weeks of paid annual leave, 20 weeks of paid parental leave, and a minimum wage of roughly $23.23 an hour.
But, how does this compare to workplace policies in the United States? The US does not have federal regulations for paid annual leave, and few states have laws regarding the issue, while the national minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. Parental leave in the US is guaranteed for up to 12 weeks, but paid leave is not federally protected and is up to the discretion of the employer.
The question begs to be asked, why does the US, one of the most developed Western nations, have such poor labor regulations? Studies have consistently shown that more sleep and downtime lead to better mental health, and citizens of nations with better labor laws, for example Australia and Italy, are far better rested and fulfilled. No wonder the saying “Americans live to work, Europeans work to live” has become so common. Americans are tasked with far longer work hours, fewer vacations, breaks and paid leave. More time is spent on work, making it especially difficult for those with families and other commitments outside of the office.
Americans, like many employees globally, would benefit from having the right to disconnect. In an era of technological reliance where people are expected to be online 24/7 and with the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ability to step away from work becomes even more crucial. Putting in place regulations that would allow for less stress, especially in “workaholic” societies, would mean progress.
