Category: Labor law and working conditions
Physical exercise: a contractual obligation?
There are numerous studies linking the regular practice of physical exercise to greater productivity in the workplace. Exercise improves health in general, so logically it enables our bodies to be in a better condition to perform our duties at work. That is the conclusion reached by many studies, one of which is called “The effect […]
Can companies ban smoking even in outdoor spaces?
In its November 13, 2017 judgment, the High Court of Justice of Cantabria rejected a complaint filed against a company that prohibited smoking throughout its factory grounds, including in outdoor spaces where workers went to smoke during their 15-minute breaks. The issue is interesting because it is not a case of determining whether employees can […]
Can we really close the gender pay gap?
In line with the International Labour Organization’s Global Wage Report 2016/2017, the 2017 National Salary Structure Survey finds that, in Spain, women earn an average of €20,051.58 per year, compared to the €25,992.76 average salary for men. In other words, on average, women earn 77.1% of what their male counterparts do. Moreover, in 2017, 18.2% […]
Beginning of the end of fraudulent temporary contracts?
Last Thursday the Government announced a set of measures that are going to be proposed to social partners at the Employment Quality Table, in order to combat unjustified temporary contracts in the employment market and encourage job stability. With the new proposed legislation, the fine that could be imposed by labor inspectors would increase exponentially, […]
Effectiveness and use of codes of conduct
The current complexity of the global business environment, as a result of more dynamic commercial activity and personal relations, means that many companies have already implemented an internal code of conduct for their employees. From a labor law perspective, whether they form part of more generic compliance or corporate social responsibility policies or are independent, […]
Debate on keeping working time records reopens
As you might recall, around this time last year we were engaged in a debate over the employer’s obligation to keep daily working time records. The National Appellate Court initially held that the provision in article 35.5 of the Spanish Workers’ Statute on keeping daily working time records for the purposes of calculating overtime implied […]