Union says current rules at work don't protect workers' time, wellbeing
The New Zealand government is facing pressure from unions to introduce a Right to Disconnect law to protect employee wellbeing and prevent employer exploitation.
New Zealand Council of Trade Unions (NZCTU) president Sandra Grey said political parties across the country should pass a Right to Disconnect law "as soon as possible."
"This is not a blanket ban on contacting employees outside their scheduled work hours, rather it empowers workers to decide whether to respond to out-of-hours contact, based on the reason for the contact," Grey said.
"Our laws haven't kept up with modern ways of working. Current rules don't protect workers' time or wellbeing. They allow employers to exploit power imbalances in their relationships with workers."
New Zealand's long working hours
Grey pointed out that many New Zealand workers are constantly on the job, with long hours and overtime common.
"Technology and remote work have erased the line between work and home. Workers shouldn't have to go to a staff meeting on their day off, take their laptop to the beach in the weekend, or take a call from their boss at 10pm if they aren't on call," Grey said.
Data from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) revealed that New Zealand employees are working 1,751 hours a year, slightly higher than the OECD average of 1,740 hours.
"We work some of the longest hours in the OECD – and burnout, anxiety, and stress are on the rise," Grey said.
Right to Disconnect overseas
The NZCTU's call for a Right to Disconnect law comes as similar legislation is passed overseas.
Australia recently implemented a Right to Disconnect law that enables employees to refuse out-of-hours contact from their employer unless that refusal is unreasonable.
European nations, such as France, Germany, and Ireland, have also introduced their own versions of Right to Disconnect policies.
"France, Ireland, Germany and Australia have all introduced 'right to disconnect' laws. The new law in Australia meant that unpaid overtime hours were fewer in 2024 than in previous years," Grey said.
"With the Prime Minister suggesting workers have too much time off, and businesses cutting back on flexible work arrangements, we must ensure that workers are paid for all the work they do."
Is New Zealand ready to disconnect?
The Right to Disconnect remains a divisive topic within governments and employers worldwide.
Australia's Right to Disconnect rule was met with criticism from employers, who called the legislation "rushed, poorly thought out, and deeply confusing."
Academics at the University of Auckland recently tackled the possibility of Right to Disconnect in New Zealand, noting that an "always online" work culture has been enabled by technology and job insecurity among employees.
"Ideally, you'd have legislation to clean up this area," said Simon Schofield, a professional teaching fellow at Auckland Law School, in an article for Ingenio, the university's alumni publication.
"A right to disconnect is a 'negative right to not have to respond' – a simple rule that 'lets employees know what their rights are,'" he added.
But Lixin Jiang, an associate professor at the university and an industrial-organisational psychologist, believes that legislation is the answer.
Jiang noted that the impact of Right to Disconnect overseas remains unclear, and that the need to improve productivity will maintain the pressure to contact employees after hours.
"If leaders and supervisors support the balance between working life and family life, employees will have an easier time disconnecting, and that will have better health consequences," the associate professor said.
