A new poll by ADP reveals that Australians are struggling to disconnect from work outside of contracted hours.
Melbourne, Australia, 25th June, 2026: A new poll from ADP, a global leader in HR and payroll solutions, reveals many Australians are still struggling to switch off from work and are frequently contacted after hours.
Almost four in 10 (38%) working Australians say they are contacted outside their contracted hours at least once a week. A further 27% say this happens once or twice per month. One in five (21%) say they are unable to disconnect from work at all.
The findings come as Australian workplaces continue to adapt to changing expectations around availability, flexibility and work-life balance. Since the commencement of the Right to Disconnect laws in 2024, eligible Australian employees have held the right to reasonably refuse to monitor, read or respond to work-related contact by their employer or third parties outside their working hours. The legislation has helped broaden a national conversation about workplace boundaries and what employers should reasonably expect from their staff, particularly in hybrid and remote environments.
ADP’s survey suggests the challenge extends beyond inconvenience. More than one in four (27%) Australians say work-related stress affected their personal relationships in the last year. A similar number (25%) say they have struggled to prioritise their health and wellbeing due to work.
Judy Barnett, Operations Director at ADP, said the poll gives employers a snapshot of Australian working life and how difficult it can be to disconnect:
“Technology has made it easier than ever to stay connected with our colleagues, but these results show that connection can come at a cost,” Barnett said.
“The introduction of the Right to Disconnect laws in Australia has prompted an important national conversation in this space. For Australian organisations, this is an opportunity to reset expectations with their employees and build cultures where work-life balance is truly respected and encouraged.”
“In this context, platforms like ADP© Lyric HCM can support employers with greater visibility into their employees’ working patterns. By helping organisations track employee time, scheduling and absences more effectively, these tools can make it easier to manage overtime, support employee wellbeing and reduce the risk of burnout.”
About the poll:
Antenna, an independent consumer research agency on behalf of ADP, conducted an online AntennaPoll survey of 1,019 Australians between 28th and 31st of Jan 2026. The data collection was national and weighted for representation against the 2021 ABS Census.
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About ADP (NASDAQ – ADP)
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