Right to disconnect for small business employees starts 26 August
Published 13 August 2025
The right to disconnect will soon apply to employees of small business employers. Here’s what employers and employees can do to make sure they’re prepared for this and other changes.
On this page:
What's changing
The right to disconnect will apply to employees of small business employers from 26 August 2025. It has applied to employees of non-small business employers since 26 August 2024.
The right to disconnect gives employees the right to refuse to monitor, read or reply to contact (or attempted contact) outside their working hours, unless doing so is unreasonable. This includes contact (or attempted contact) from an employer or a third party.
Get Ready for the changes
It’s important to know what the right to disconnect is and how it applies. We have information and resources to help small business employers and employees prepare.
Go to our Right to disconnect page to:
- understand the rules about the right to disconnect, including the factors to consider when working out whether an employee’s refusal is unreasonable
- find practical examples and access tailored award information for your industry
- debunk common myths and get tips on discussing out of hours contact
- find out about protections and how to resolve disputes
- access other tools and resources, including our videos for small business employers.
Watch our videos
We’ve created 3 videos to help small businesses prepare for the changes.
Our videos cover:
- what the right to disconnect rules are and how they apply to small business
- how to have a conversation with employees about the new rules
- practical steps to take to apply the rules and avoid issues in the workplace.
Each video has subtitles available in Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Arabic.
Watch these videos now on our Right to disconnect page.
Reminder about casual changes
From 26 August 2025, eligible casuals employed by a small business can issue a notice to their employer (in writing) to change to full-time or part-time employment under the employee choice pathway.
There are rules employees and employers need to follow when making or receiving a notice. Find out more and access free templates, at Becoming a permanent employee.
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