Kaya Biz explores the global rise of the “right to disconnect” and why South African employers can’t afford to ignore it.
Bulelwa Hoala
Many employees struggle to switch off after work because after-hours WhatsApp messages, work calls, and late-night meetings have become the norm.
However, some manage to disconnect completely, becoming unreachable once they leave the office and dedicating their time to family or personal responsibilities.
This is called disconnecting.
Kaya Biz host Gugulethu Mfuphi recently explored this topic and asked, “But what’s happening globally? And how does this also reflect within the South African context of the working environment.”
Globally, the “right to disconnect” from employer communication outside of working hours is gaining momentum.
Countries such as France, Spain, and most recently Australia have adopted laws and passed legislation protecting workers’ rights to unplug.
Leila Moosa, senior associate at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr helped Gugu unpack this intriguing conversation.
She explained that in South Africa, there is no specific right or law that regulates the right to disconnect, but businesses cannot afford to ignore the growing trend.
“From a global perspective, and what we’re seeing that’s emerging in a number of countries globally most recently Australia, it speaks to the right for you to disconnect from your work or your work-related communication outside of particular working hours,” Moosa said.
“It prohibits employers from then penalising those employees who do choose to exercise this right and who do refuse to attend to work or work-related communication outside of those hours,” she added.
Listen to the full conversation on the podcast below:
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