Newsflash: Australian business leaders brace for impact of right to disconnect laws

Dayforce, Inc. (NYSE: DAY; TSX: DAY), a global human capital management (HCM) leader that makes work life better, today released a survey of Australian executives that revealed more than two-thirds of polled organisations believe Australia's new right to disconnect legislation will have a significant impact on their operations.

The right to disconnect legislation, which came into effect on August 26th of this year for many employees in Australia, provides protection for individuals who do not monitor, read or respond to contact, or attempted contact, from their employer outside working hours, unless their refusal is unreasonable.

The legislation has been billed as pivotal to helping employees achieve work-life balance in the digital era but the requirement to allow them to fully disconnect once they've clocked off may force employers to overhaul their processes and practices.

Only 28 per cent of the Dayforce survey respondents believed the legislation would improve work life balance for employees, while just 14 per cent believed it would enhance employee retention and reduce turnover.

Other key findings from the survey include:

• Compliance complexity: Managing compliance requirements is now the biggest barrier to high performance for 30 per cent of organisations, according to respondents. Almost two thirds of survey respondents cited labour laws and regulations as their chief challenge, followed by data privacy and security (26 per cent).

• Flexible working: Now the norm in many organisations, flexible working has made no significant change to productivity for 52 per cent of organisations, while 36 per cent have experienced a productivity increase. Just seven per cent stated productivity had decreased as a result.

• The high-tech revolution: Digital technologies and AI are impacting industries across the board. They're the most significant factors shaping the future of work in 57 per cent of organisations, followed by shifts in employee expectations (18 per cent).

• Finding top talent: The jobs market remains steady, with 52 per cent of organisations actively hiring for multiple roles and 26 per cent hiring for specific critical roles only. Finding workers with the right skills and experience is difficult for 50 per cent of respondents, while 26 per cent say they're experiencing general labour shortages.

• Diversity, equity and inclusion: With the case for embracing DEI in the workplace now well made out, local organisations are continuing to support initiatives that further this end. Creating an inclusive culture was the DEI initiative most critical to organisational success for 51 per cent of respondents, followed by enhancing diversity in leadership (22 per cent) and addressing pay equity (15 per cent).

"These results highlight the growing complexity crisis that Australian employers are navigating, including increasing compliance risk and the expectations of a boundless workforce," says Brian Donn, Managing Director, APJ at Dayforce, Inc. "Fostering strong connections between an organisation and its people, as well as investing in efficiencies through strong processes and innovative technology, is critical."

Methodology
This survey was conducted among attendees of Dayforce Daybreak in Sydney, online and in-person between August 22, 2024, and September 10, 2024. The survey includes responses from 86 professionals (85 from Australia and 1 from New Zealand) ranging from C-level to associates.

About Dayforce
Dayforce makes work life better. Everything we do as a global leader in HCM technology is focused on improving work for thousands of customers and millions of employees around the world. Our single, global people platform for HR, payroll, talent, workforce management, and benefits equips Dayforce customers to unlock their full workforce potential and operate with confidence. To learn how Dayforce helps create quantifiable for organizations of all sizes and industries, visit dayforce.com.  

Media Contact
Nick de Pass
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