Shark Tank Billionaire Criticizes Australia’s Worker Right to Disconnect After Hours
Kevin O’Leary has been vocal about his opposition to the concept of the right to disconnect.
The Canadian billionaire businessman and Shark Tank star criticized Australia’s new “right to disconnect” laws that have recently been implemented.
These laws threaten to penalize employers who reach out to employees outside of working hours, unless it’s in exceptional circumstances. However, the effectiveness of such laws for workers is limited due to clauses in their employment contracts that allow for after-hours communication.
O’Leary strongly disapproved of the government’s decision to impose these restrictions on businesses.
He expressed his frustration on Fox News, questioning scenarios such as office events or emergencies that may require contacting employees outside regular hours for work-related reasons.
He described the idea as foolish and wondered why anyone would propose such a law.
Related Stories
If an employee tells O’Leary they are in “silent mode,” he stated that they would be dismissed.
These right-to-disconnect laws have been adopted in various European countries since France first introduced them in 2017.
Countries such as Belgium, Spain, and Italy have implemented these laws, and discussions are ongoing in other developed nations, including Canada.
Supporters argue that such rules are necessary for the modern digital age, while opponents claim they are impractical and unnecessary, hindering the ability to contact employees when needed.
Canada’s Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland supports the right to disconnect, citing concerns about the impact of constant connectivity on worker health and well-being.
Government documents highlight the negative effects of cognitive and emotional overload due to hyper-connectivity.
Some German companies have taken proactive steps to prevent employee burnout, even without government regulations, by implementing measures to ensure work-life balance and prevent overworking.
Major corporations like Bosch and Volkswagen have already introduced right-to-disconnect policies in their workplaces.
In Australia, Fair Work Ombudsman Anna Booth encourages open discussions in workplaces to determine what is appropriate for both employers and employees regarding the right to disconnect.
During discussions on the new laws, opposition workplace spokesperson Michaelia Cash noted that many large corporations in Australia already address these issues internally.
