Spain: Employee rights

Updating author: Jesús Gimeno, Simmons & Simmons
Original author: Jones Day

See the legal services provided by the updating author of International > Spain, including any discounts/offers for subscribers.

Summary

• In response to the damage caused by the floods on 28 October until 4 November 2024 in various municipalities of the province of Valencia and Murcia, the Government has approved two Royal Decree Laws. (See Emergency measures - floods)
• There are various rules for employees' hours of work, including overtime, and particular restrictions for night workers. (See Hours of work)
• Employees are entitled to minimum rest breaks and rest periods. (See Rest breaks and rest periods)
• There are various rules regarding minimum paid annual leave for employees and when it may be taken. (See Holiday and holiday pay)
• Pregnant employees, new mothers and adoptive parents have various rights. (See Maternity and pregnancy rights)
• Employees are entitled to leave following the birth, adoption or fostering of a child. (See Paternity leave)
• Employees are entitled to take unpaid leave of absence of up to three years to look after a young child. (See Parental leave)
• Employees are entitled to take time off or reduce their working hours for care reasons. (See Carer's leave)
• Employees are entitled to various other types of statutory paid leave. (See Other leave)
• Part-time employees have the same rights as full-time employees, on a pro rata basis where necessary. (See Part-time workers)
• Fixed-term workers have various rights, and there are a number of different types of fixed-term contract. (See Fixed-term workers)
• Employers have various obligations in relation to remote workers. (See Remote workers)
• Temporary agency workers are considered to have an employment relationship with the agency for which they work. (See Temporary agency workers)
• Workers posted to work in Spain from other countries are covered by Spanish employment legislation. (See Posted workers)
• When an independent economic entity is transferred to a new employer and maintains its identity, the employment contracts of employees are transferred to the new employer. (See Transfers of undertakings)
• Employers are obliged to contribute to a state fund to cover their employees' claims in the event of insolvency, in cases where the company has insufficient funds. (See Insolvency of employer)
• Disciplinary procedures may derive from one or more sources, but there are no statutory rules on grievance procedures. (See Disciplinary and grievance procedures)
• Bullying or "moral harassment" at work is prohibited. (See Bullying)
• There are various rules regarding the processing and use of employees' personal data. (See Data protection and record keeping)
• There are various rules that apply to whistleblowers working in the private or public sector and who have obtained information on offences in an employment or professional context (See Whistleblowing)