Billionaire businesswoman Brittney Saunders has responded to the government’s new “right to disconnect” laws that came into effect on Monday.
Starting August 26, employees of businesses other than small businesses (businesses that employ 15 or more people) can refuse to answer “unreasonable” calls outside of their employer’s working hours.
And the 31-year-old took to social media to tell employers it was the perfect time for them to “get their act together”.
The influencer, who owns the Fayt clothing brand, used an Instagram video to tell her followers that the new law was simply “common sense.”
“Australians now have a legal right to disconnect after working hours,” he said on Monday.
‘As a business owner with over 60 employees, I wonder: why is this not a common sense practice within companies?
‘I think this is fantastic, but isn’t this already common sense for bosses and companies?
“As a business owner, I can say this is a step in absolutely the right direction,” Saunders added.
Billionaire businesswoman Brittney Lee Saunders has responded to the government’s new “right to disconnect” laws that came into effect on Monday. Pictured: Brittany’s Instagram video
‘And all you business owners out there, get your act together: stop contacting your employees outside of work hours and learn to be a little more organized.’
Sharing the post on Monday, Brittany added the caption: ‘Attention all bosses and people in leadership positions who constantly harass employees after hours – today is not your day xx.’
This comes after Kyle Sandilands issued a warning to Australians over the new legislation.
Brittany added that the new laws should be “common sense” for bosses and businesses. Meanwhile, Kyle Sandilands (pictured) greeted the legislation with scepticism.
Speaking on his KIIS FM breakfast show Kyle and Jackie O on Monday, the 53-year-old radio host warned workers not to get too excited about the new regulations.
“That doesn’t mean you won’t be thrown backstage,” he said.
Kyle argued that while it would be illegal under the new rules for bosses to punish workers for failing to respond outside of work hours, some unscrupulous managers could find ways to get around the laws.
“Don’t think for a second, ‘To hell with that real estate boss,'” he said.
“Because sooner or later they will find a way to get rid of you so they can get around the limits.”
Kyle also urged all Australian workers not to abuse the system.
“You can say to anyone, ‘Oh, by law, I don’t have to answer that,’ and they’ll say, ‘Don’t worry about it. ’”
“And then they punish you for every little infraction. You’ll go if they want you to go, one way or another. So don’t abuse the system.”
Kyle’s co-host Jackie O Henderson, 49, agreed with Kyle’s warning, adding that being contacted outside of working hours was a modern problem.
“I feel like that could happen,” Jackie said.
“I think sometimes it’s because working hours are endless these days. When you didn’t have email or a cell phone, you were never bothered outside of work hours.”
Kyle replied: “And nothing was done. It was the late 70s. The world turned very slowly back then.”
The new laws will legally protect workers from being forced to take non-emergency calls and respond to emails outside of business hours.
Employees of large companies may refuse to answer “unreasonable” calls from their employer outside of working hours. Failing to answer the phone will be unreasonable if contact is required by law.
The 31-year-old influencer owns the clothing brand Fayt and employs 60 workers. Pictured: Saunders
If the law does not require responding to the call or email, reasonableness will be judged by the employee’s level of job responsibility, how disruptive the contact was, and whether the employee received compensation.
The Fair Work Commission is the port of contact where an employee or employer can make a complaint.
Businesses that violate the rules, including an individual employee, may be subject to civil penalties of up to $19,800.
The changes do not prohibit an employer from sending the email or message outside of working hours.
The new federal laws will apply to businesses with 15 or more employees starting August 26, 2025. Smaller businesses have another 12 months to adapt to the change.