OPINION NZ lagging on right to disconnect from work

• Published date: 24 August 2024
• Author: Amanda Reilly and Joshua A.T. Fairfield theconversation.com/nz
• Publication title: Whanganui Chronicle

The legislation is a response to growing awareness of the health and safety costs of stress and overwork associated with constant connectivity

Other countries, including France and Belgium, have recognised such a right, or are considering doing so.

New Zealand is not. Its regulation of working time is comparatively rudimentary compared to more comprehensive regulation in other countries, although the Minimum Wage Act limits working time to 40 hours a week unless the parties agree otherwise.

New Zealand should consider the right to disconnect for workers. But this needs to go beyond limits on when employers can actively contact workers.

The Government also needs to tackle employers’ ability to use newly developed technology to spy on, track and record everything workers do in their time off.

Constant surveillance is now a...