Demystifying the Right to Disconnect: What SMEs Need to Know"

Less Than 15

In this episode Wendy Jeffery-Lonnie, HR Manager at DFK Gooding Partners in Perth, covers the Right to Disconnect legislation and its implications for small to medium-sized businesses.
Wendy provides practical advice on how to proactively address this legislation, ensuring it integrates smoothly into existing operations and maintaining positive employee relatiosnhips.
Whether you're concerned about compliance or looking to foster a healthy work-life balance for your team, this episode offers valuable insights.

Key Takeaways:

1. Understanding the legislation:
   
   
   • The Right to Disconnect legislation gives employees the right to refuse unreasonable out-of-hours contact. Wendy clarifies that it’s not about banning all communication after hours but about defining what constitutes "reasonable" contact for your business.
2. The importance of proactive communication:
   
   
   • Open dialogue with your team is crucial. Wendy highlights the importance of having proactive discussions to set clear expectations and avoid misunderstandings. She also offers a checklist of questions to guide these conversations, which can be downloaded from the show notes.
3. Tailoring policies to your business:
   
   
   • Every business is different, and what’s reasonable for one industry might not be for another. Wendy discusses how the Fair Work Act and industry-specific awards can provide guidance, and why it’s important to customise your policies to reflect the unique needs of your business and workforce.
4. Practical implementation tips:
   
   
   • Simple actions like using delayed email sends and setting clear boundaries for after-hours communication can go a long way in preventing stress and potential legal issues. Wendy offers actionable steps that businesses can take right now to prepare for the new legislation.
5. Why you need to act now:
   
   
   • With the legislation becoming law soon, Wendy emphasises the importance of getting on the front foot. By taking proactive steps now, you can ensure your business is compliant and avoid any last-minute complications.

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