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Time's up: Spain introduces digital time-tracking document alongside shorter work week
Spain will officially reduce the working week from 40 hours to 37.5 and employee rights will be protected with this new document
At the beginning of February, Spain approved the reduction of the working week from 40 hours to 37.5 in a ground-breaking and long-awaited agreement between the government and the unions. But aside from employees enjoying a shorter day at the office, the new law comes with a few administrative requirements too.
As part of this reform, all companies, regardless of size, will be required to provide their employees with a detailed breakdown of their working hours, including the total number of hours worked, the nature of each hour (ordinary or extraordinary) and any reductions in working hours applied.
This information will be presented in a new digital document, attached to the employee's pay slip. The idea is that staff members can clearly see the hours they have worked and because it’s digital, the information will be available to the authorities anytime they decide to carry out an inspection.
The new law will also introduce a robust penalty regime for companies that fail to comply with the obligations of recording working hours and reducing working hours to 37.5 hours per week. Unlike previous regulations, which imposed sanctions on a global basis, the new law will levy fines on a per-worker basis, ensuring that companies are held accountable for each individual employee.
According to the draft law, non-compliance on the part of employers will be considered a serious offence if it poses a “serious risk to the safety and health of workers.”
The fines will therefore depend on the severity of the offence:
- Minor offences: 1,000 to 2,000 euros.
- Serious infringements: 2,001 to 5,000 euros.
- Very serious offences: 5,001 to 10,000 euros.
These fines will be imposed for each worker affected by non-compliance, sending a strong message to companies that they must prioritise their employees' well-being and adhere to the new regulations.
Image: Freepik
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