You have a right to ignore your bosses — but only in these countries, and after work hours

Australia has become the latest country to allow employees the "right to disconnect" from work, a measure that has so far been implemented mostly in European nations.

Under the new legislation, that came into effect on Monday, organizations are not allowed to punish employees for not picking up their phone or responding to emails outside of work hours. 

This means that while employers and third-party clients can still make contact with their staff beyond paid hours, workers now have the legal right to refuse to respond — unless doing so is "unreasonable."

What is deemed to be unreasonable will be assessed by Australia's Fair Work Commission, which will take into account factors such as the nature of the employee's role and level of responsibility, how the contact was made and how disruptive it was to the employee, amongst other criteria. 

"The new laws will give workers greater protections around workplace conditions, job security, and their ability to balance work and life, as well as stopping the underpayment and undercutting of Australian workers' pay and conditions," Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Murray Watt said.

Here are some other countries that have introduced the right to disconnect from work.

In 2017, France implemented its "right to disconnect" from work emails during non-work hours. Companies with 50 or more employees are required to negotiate with employee representatives to decide when workers can be contacted via electronic communication methods. Failing to comply with the rules invites a fine of up to 1% of a worker's total compensation.

France is known for having one of the most regulated labor markets in the developed world, largely due to its legally-required 35-hour work week.

Similarly,