The right to disconnect

Queensland Teachers' Journal, Vol 128 No 3, 5 May 2023, page no. 10

Why?

Everyone has the right to a work-life balance. The Department of Education State School Teachers’ Certified Agreement 2022 acknowledges the need for this balance. Clause 9.5.4 states: “Employees are encouraged to disconnect from digital technologies and communications when accessing rest time, weekends and leave/vacation periods, except in exceptional circumstances.” To restore work-life balance, the QTU believes that there is an urgent need for a reduction in digital communications. This can be achieved through legislative change by the Queensland Government, systemic policy change by the Department of Education, school protocols supported by the local consultative committee, and individual employees asserting professional autonomy, as encouraged by the Queensland Government via its website.

How?

Members are encouraged to use their professional autonomy to determine when to place an “out of office” on their email account, or to work with members at their school on developing a schoolwide disconnecting protocol through a staff communication policy and/or parent communication policy.

Examples

• “I have a right to disconnect and will not be engaging with emails between 4pm and 8am tomorrow. If your email is urgent, please contact school administration on (phone number) or (email).”
• “I am currently teaching. For urgent matters, please contact school administration.”
• “I work part-time. My rostered work days are (day) and (day).”
• “Teachers and leaders at our school disconnect from their emails from 3:00pm Friday until 8:30am Monday.”