Contributed By A&O Shearman
Generally, companies hire employees through an ordinary employment relationship. There are some distinctions between senior executive employment contracts and ordinary employment relationships.
Executive contracts are regulated under Royal Decree 1382/1985 of 1 August 1985. Executives are defined as managers who exercise powers inherent to the legal ownership of the company and relating to its general purpose, limited only by the decisions and instructions from the governing person in charge of the company. These employment relationships have fewer regulated rights.
There are different types of employment contract in Spain depending on the form, duration and nature of the relationship. Employment relationships may be distinguished by the number of hours worked by the employees (eg, part-time or full-time employment contracts with the same rights).
Form of the Employment Contract
The principle of freedom of form applies to employment contracts, which may be entered into either verbally or in written form. Verbal employment contracts are generally considered to be indefinite.
However, the following employment contracts must be made in writing:
Duration of the Employment Contract
An employment contract is presumed to last, in general, for an indefinite period. In order to conclude a fixed-term contract, it is necessary to specify precisely the exact and detailed ground of the temporary contract, the specific circumstances that justify it and its connection with the expected duration. Currently, there are only two circumstances where fixed-term contracts are allowed:
Temporary contracts due to production circumstances
A fixed-term contract due to production circumstances may not last more than six months (extendable by another six months), and it must be in response to the occasional and unforeseeable variations that generate a temporary imbalance of employment in the company. Contracting for a period determined by circumstances of production would also include contracts for occasional foreseeable situations of reduced duration and delimited within the fixed contract, duly identified in the contract. They may be used for a total of 90 days, but never consecutively.
Temporary contracts to replace employees
A fixed-term contract to replace an employee may be concluded if the employment of that employee has been suspended with a specific right to be reinstated in their position, to cover the reduced working day for legal or conventional reasons, as well as to fill vacancies during a selection process. In the last of these cases, the duration of the contract shall not exceed three months.
Training contracts
Training contracts now come in two forms.
Fixed-term employment becoming indefinite
Employees who, in a period of 24 months, have been contracted for a period of more than 18 months, with or without interruption, for the same or a different job within the same company or group of companies, through two or more contracts due to production circumstances, either directly or through their provision by temporary employment agencies, will acquire the status of permanent employees. This provision will also apply when cases of transfer of undertakings occur in accordance with legal or conventional provisions.
Likewise, a person who has occupied a job, with or without interruption, for more than 18 months in a period of 24 months through contracts due to production circumstances, including secondment contracts entered into with temporary employment agencies, will acquire permanent status.
Formal Requirements
Specific information must be included in a contract of employment, such as:
Maximum Working Hours and Flexible Arrangements
The weekly maximum working time is 40 hours. However, this maximum may be reduced by an applicable CBA or in an employment contract. As a general rule, daily working time cannot exceed nine hours unless a longer duration is provided for in a CBA.
Negotiations are currently ongoing regarding a possible reduction in the maximum working hours to 38.5 in 2024 and then to 37.5 in 2025. This reduction would not imply a salary diminution.
Both employers and employees must comply with the minimum rest periods:
Companies may agree with workers’ representatives on an irregular distribution of working hours.
Part-Time Employees
Part-time employees cannot work overtime, but they can sign a complementary-hours agreement.
Overtime
Those hours worked over the maximum duration of ordinary working hours shall be considered overtime, which must be compensated with time off or payment in cash.
The number of overtime hours may not exceed 80 per employee in a year. Overtime hours compensated with time off in the subsequent four months do not count towards the maximum yearly limit, but they shall in any event be considered as overtime.
Certain categories of employees are not permitted to work overtime:
Under Spanish employment law, companies must register the daily working hours of each employee, setting out the start and end times, including overtime. This obligation does not apply to the working hours of senior executives.
A minimum wage is fixed every year by the government, which must be paid in cash. However, applicable CBAs regulate the minimum wage to be paid for each job position in each specific sector, to which increases are applicable each year. Since 1 January 2024, the minimum salary has been increased by 5%, being fixed at EUR15,876 annually.
Salaries must be paid in 12 monthly instalments, plus two extraordinary payments (in July and December).
Vacation
Employees are entitled to a minimum of 30 calendar days (22 business days) of vacation per annum. Annual vacations have to be taken within the calendar year and cannot be carried forward unless otherwise agreed with the employer. Vacation cannot be paid in lieu except in case of termination of employment. The employee’s remuneration during the vacation period must be the same as what they are entitled to receive during ordinary working days. In addition, employees are entitled to 14 bank holidays per year.
Other Paid Leave
In addition to the above, employees are also entitled to the following paid leaves (which may be enhanced as per the applicable CBA).
Should the employee need to travel due to one of the above-mentioned circumstances, the leave shall be extended by two additional days.
Furthermore, employees are entitled to:
Maternity leave
Employment for mothers is suspended for 16 weeks due to the birth of a child; this is extended in the case of multiple births by two weeks for each additional child. The first six weeks following the date of birth are compulsory.
Paternity leave
This leave has been gradually increased, and since 1 January 2021, paternity leave is 16 weeks due to the birth of a child, being extended in the case of multiple births by two weeks for each additional child. Employees are obliged to take paternity leave for at least the first six weeks following the date of birth. After those first six weeks, paternity leave can be taken on a part-time basis.
Social security covers maternity and paternity payments up to 100% of the contribution base. Several CBAs oblige companies to supplement the social security allowance up to 100% of the employee’s salary.
Parental leave
Employees have the right to enjoy unpaid parental leave to take care of a child up to eight years old. The leave will have a duration of eight weeks, either continuously or not to be enjoyed in full or part time.
Unpaid leave to take care of children or family members
Employees may take up to three years’ unpaid leave from the date of a child’s birth, or from the administrative resolution in cases of adoption. Employees may also request unpaid leave, with a maximum duration of two years, to take care of family members who, due to age, accident or illness, cannot care for themselves. In both cases, employees have the right to be reinstated by the company after taking such leave.
Reduction of working hours
Employees with a child aged under 12 or who are responsible for a person with a physical, mental or sensory disability are entitled to a reduction in working hours with a pro rata reduction in salary of between one eighth and one half of the normal duration of the working day. This reduction in working hours constitutes an individual right of any employee.
Restrictive covenants are enforceable if certain requirements are met.
A non-competition clause in the course of employment is an employment obligation. No special regulation is needed.
Exclusivity restrictions must be adequately remunerated in order to be enforceable. The law does not make provision as to how much is "adequate" for this purpose.
Post-contractual non-competition restrictions may not exceed two years for technicians and six months for other employees. Post-contractual non-competition restrictions must meet the following requirements:
The law does not make provision as to what is adequate for these purposes although, on the basis of case law and depending on how restrictive the covenant is, the compensation should range from 70% to 100% of the employee’s fixed salary.
A post-contractual non-competition restriction is deemed to be a bilateral covenant, the waiver of which requires the agreement of both parties.
Non-solicitation of customers is considered to be included within the scope of a non-competition clause.
However, non-solicitation of employees is not regulated in Spain; therefore, this type of clause could raise enforceability issues.
Organic Law 3/2018 of 5 December 2018 on the Protection of Personal Data and the Guarantee of Digital Rights sets out a number of specific provisions that apply when processing an employee’s personal data.
Surveillance and Recording in the Workplace
Employers may process data collected through camera or video camera surveillance systems to supervise employees, as established by Article 20.3 of the Workers’ Statute and by public service legislation, provided that these functions are exercised within their legal framework and within the limits inherent therein. The Workers’ Statute permits an employer to adopt such measures (having regard to the employees’ dignity and the capacity of workers with disabilities) to verify that employees are fulfilling their employment obligations. Employers must provide advance, express, clear and concise notification to their employees and, where appropriate, to their representatives about the use of camera surveillance systems.
In the event that the flagrant commission of an unlawful act by an employee has been captured by such a system, the duty to inform shall be understood to have been fulfilled when an information notice has been placed in a suitably visible location, which gives notice of the processing, the identity of the controller and the data subjects’ rights. In no case shall the installation of sound recording or camera/video camera surveillance systems be permitted in places intended for the rest or leisure of employees.
The use of sound recording systems will only be allowed if such use is relevant to the protection of installations, goods and persons in the workplace and adheres to the principles of proportionality and minimum intervention. The data collected in this way must be deleted within a maximum period of one month from its capture, except when it must be kept to prove the commission of acts that threaten the integrity of persons, goods or facilities. In this case, the images and sounds must be made available to the competent authority within a maximum period of 72 hours.
Digital Devices in the Workplace
Employees have the right to protection of their privacy when using digital devices made available to them by their employer. The employer may only access content from such digital media for the purpose of monitoring compliance with work or statutory obligations and maintaining the integrity of such devices. Employers shall establish criteria for the use of digital devices, always respecting the minimum standards for the protection of employees’ privacy. The employees’ representatives shall participate in establishing such criteria.
The policy around employer’s access to the content of digital devices shall precisely specify the authorised use thereof and establish guarantees to preserve the privacy of workers, such as, where appropriate, those periods when the devices may be used for private purposes. Employees shall be informed of the said criteria.
Geolocation Systems in the Workplace
Employers may process data collected through geolocation systems to supervise employees as explained above. The employer must expressly, clearly and unequivocally inform employees and, where appropriate, their representatives about the use of geolocation systems. They shall also inform employees about their right to access and rectify data gathered through geolocation systems and restrictions on the processing and erasure of that data.
Whistle-Blowing Systems
Employers may process data to facilitate the reporting of cases of misconduct committed within the company or through the actions of third parties. The employees and relevant third parties must be informed of the existence of such systems. Access to the data contained in these systems shall be limited exclusively to those who, whether or not employed by the entity, carry out internal control and compliance functions and are in charge of the processing that may be designated for that purpose. However, access by other persons, even their communication with third parties, shall be lawful when it is necessary for the adoption of disciplinary measures or for the processing of legal proceedings.
Without prejudice to the notification to the competent authority of acts constituting criminal or administrative wrongdoing, it is only when disciplinary measures are to be taken against an employee that access to the systems shall be granted to personnel with managerial and HR functions. Necessary measures must be taken to preserve the anonymity and guarantee the confidentiality of the data relating to the persons affected by the information supplied, in particular the person who brought the facts to the attention of the entity. The data relating to the complainant, and of employees and third parties, shall be kept in the complaints system only for as long as is necessary to decide whether it is appropriate to initiate an investigation into the alleged facts.
Data Storage and Removal
The data shall be removed from the system after a period of three months has elapsed, unless it is being kept for evidential purposes. Thereafter, the data may be investigated by the appropriate body. Complaints that have not been dealt with may only be recorded in anonymised form unless an obligation to block the data applies.
Contact Details
The processing of personal data in the form of the contact data of individuals who work in a legal entity and individual entrepreneurs and freelance professionals shall be assumed (unless proven otherwise) to have a lawful basis, provided that the processing relates only to data necessary for professional purposes and the purpose of the processing is to maintain relations with the legal entity in which the data subject works.
There are no maximum or minimum hiring quotas for foreign employees.
Non-EU citizens require a work and residence permit to work. Simplified procedures apply to specially qualified employees.
EU Regulations relating to social security and social security bilateral agreements signed between Spain and other countries must be considered to determine the social security obligations applicable to temporary employees who have been hired by a foreign employer.
As a general rule, any foreign employee rendering services in Spain shall pay into the Spanish social security system unless they are entitled to make contributions in their country of origin, whether under EU Regulations or a bilateral agreement on social security matters signed between the country of origin and Spain. In the latter case, a formal communication must be submitted to the labour authorities.
A foreign employee will need to apply for a social security number before the beginning of the contract, which will enable their employer to register them for social security purposes.
Law 10/2021 of 9 July 2021 on Remote Working regulates labour relationships that are performed remotely on a regular basis (the work must be performed for at least 30% of the working day over a three-month reference period). This law, along with the Personal Data and Digital Rights Law (3/2018) of 5 December 2018, the Occupational Risk Prevention Law (31/1995) of 8 November 1995 and the General Social Security Law (8/2015) of 30 October 2015, cover the following issues related to remote work.
Regarding data privacy:
Regarding occupational safety and health:
Regarding social security:
Finally, Law 28/2022 marks a significant step towards adapting the legal framework to the changing realities of the global labour market. As a result, international teleworkers can benefit from various measures such as a new visa category that simplifies the legal requirements and procedures.
Employees can enjoy sabbatical leave (excedencia voluntaria) for a period of no more than five years and no less than four months, as long as:
Unless otherwise established by the applicable collective bargaining agreement, no particular reasons need to be alleged in order to be granted this type of leave.
The main characteristics of sabbatical leave can be summarised as follows:
The right to be reinstated will be extinguished if, during the leave of absence, the employee does not request their reinstatement. In addition, once reinstatement has been requested and denied by the employer, the employee does not need to reiterate this request, but the employer is obliged to offer it as soon as the first suitable vacancy arises.
The organisation of workspaces in Spanish firms has undergone significant changes, driven by remote work and digitalisation. With the reduced need for permanent facilities for their entire staff, firms have adopted flexible spaces that adapt to the needs of each scenario and that promote collaboration and integration among employees.
One of the most common forms of this flexibility is hot-desking, whereby employees do not have a fixed desk, but rather can use any desk that is vacant on the day. In the absence of specific regulation, Spanish case law has confirmed that the firm has the authority to introduce this system, after informing and consulting the employees’ representatives, without this constituting a substantial modification of the working conditions.
Another growing tendency is co-working, a practice that involves professionals from various fields sharing office facilities, where they can perform their tasks, establish connections and create opportunities. As of September 2024, there is no existing regulation in Spain that specifically regulates this matter.
Unions and their rights are regulated under the Spanish Constitution and the Organic Law 11/1985 of 2 August 1985 on the Freedom of Union Association. Unions have the right to appoint their own representatives at the company concerned.
The two national representative unions in Spain are the Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) and Unión General de Trabajadores (UGT). However, there are also other representative unions in specific autonomous communities. CCOO and UGT are entitled to represent employees and:
There is a dual representation system within companies:
It is not compulsory to appoint employees’ representatives; rather it is the right of the employees and the trade unions, who may or may not exercise that right.
Unitary Representation
Unitary representation covers all employees in the workplace or the company. The number and type of employees’ representatives depends on the number of staff, ie:
Elections for workers’ representatives can be promoted by:
Trade Union Representation
Trade unions have the right to designate union delegates where there is a minimum workforce of 250 employees in any company or workplace. The number of union delegates will depend on the number of employees in the company.
Regarding to information and consultation, union delegates have the right to:
Other rights and guarantees of union representatives include:
Statutory CBAs, which carry the force of law, are negotiated by the workers’ representatives and the employer. Statutory CBAs are directly applicable to all employees and employers included within their scope, and those employees and employers are bound by them. These agreements regulate minimum salaries, annual working hours, professional groups, probationary periods, holidays and paid leave, and disciplinary measures, among other matters.
There are various types of CBAs.
This section is concerned with dismissal based on an employee’s serious and wilful non-compliance with their contractual duties. Legal causes for this type of dismissal are explained in 7.3 Dismissal for (Serious) Cause.
Objective Dismissal
Termination of employment for objective reasons can be based on the following grounds.
Collective Dismissal
A collective dismissal occurs if a company terminates employment contracts on the basis of economic, technical, organisational or production grounds, and if, within a period of 90 days, such a measure affects at least:
However, according to latest case law, which takes into account European Court of Justice case law, a collective dismissal will also arise where the number of redundancies within a single workplace affects:
Grounds
If dismissal is based on economic grounds, those grounds exist when there are current or foreseeable losses or a persistent decrease in the level of income or sales. A decrease qualifies as persistent if it takes place over three consecutive quarters compared with the same period in the previous year. The performance of a group as a whole is also relevant if the group can be considered to act as a single employer.
The technical grounds that justify dismissal apply when there are changes in the scope, means or instruments of production. Organisational grounds are those which justify the dismissal whenever there is a change in the scope of the working systems or in the way production is structured, among others. Finally, justification may be based on productive grounds whenever there are changes in the demand for the products or services that the company offers to the market.
The dismissal process is different depending on the employee status, the grounds for the termination and the number of employees impacted.
Individual Dismissal
Disciplinary dismissal
See 7.3 Dismissal for (Serious) Cause.
Objective dismissal
The employer must communicate the dismissal to the employee in writing, which should include a detailed description of the grounds. Statutory notice must be served (or longer if contractually agreed). Alternatively, the company may pay the employee a sum of money in lieu of notice. On the date of communication of the dismissal, the employee shall be entitled to statutory compensation equivalent to 20 days’ salary per year of service, up to a maximum of 12 months’ salary.
Should the termination be based on technical, economic, organisational or production reasons, a copy of the notice of communication must be provided to the employees’ representative, if one has been appointed.
Qualification of individual dismissals
The employee may take their case to the labour courts to challenge the grounds or reasons given by the employer for the dismissal or contend that the facts do not justify it. The competent labour court may deem the dismissal as one of the following.
If the court deems the dismissal unfair, the employer is permitted to:
The choice between the two above options will belong to the employee if they are an employee representative.
Collective Dismissal
Process
Collective dismissals can only be implemented following a formal statutory procedure. The main aspects are as follows.
Notice
The written notice must include a report on the grounds for collective dismissal, which must enclose the necessary supporting technical documents as well as a technical report.
If the collective dismissal is based on economic grounds, the documents must evidence economic and financial changes in the company during the last two years and must be duly audited. Whenever the grounds are based on foreseeable losses, the information provided shall include the criteria used for such forecasts. Also, a technical report on the forecast of losses must be provided, based on data extracted from the annual accounts, the sector in which the company operates and the evolution of the market and the position of the company in the same. Special requirements and documentation need to be included if the company forms part of a group of companies.
If the collective dismissal is based on technical, organisational or production grounds, the report must enclose technical reports justifying the dismissal, the measures to be adopted and their impact on the viability of the company.
The written notice must also include:
Once the labour authority has received this notice, it will inform the public entity managing unemployment benefits and apply for a compulsory report to be issued by the Labour and Social Security Inspectorate on the content of:
Negotiations
The employer must hold negotiations with the representative committee within a maximum of 30 days, or 15 days in case of companies with fewer than 50 employees. The negotiations must include possible options to avoid the collective dismissal, reduce the number of employees affected or ameliorate its consequences, as well as on the severance packages to be paid. A minimum number of mandatory meetings must be held, and a calendar followed unless otherwise agreed.
The parties must negotiate in good faith. The labour authority will safeguard the effectiveness of the negotiation period and is entitled, if appropriate, to send recommendations and warnings, but these will not stop or suspend the procedure.
The negotiation period will be concluded whether or not an agreement between the parties is reached. If sufficient grounds exist, the employer can unilaterally execute the terminations.
After the consultation period has ended, the company shall communicate to those employees who were part of the negotiation committee and to the labour authority the decision on collective dismissal. This communication should be made within a maximum period of 15 days from the last meeting held in the consultation period. The company must also communicate notice of dismissal individually to each of the affected employees. The individual communication must follow the formal procedure for individual objective dismissals.
Severance
The statutory payment in case of collective redundancy is 20 days’ salary per year of service up to a maximum of 12 months’ salary. The final amount of severance is negotiated during the consultancy period, which is usually increased by companies in order to reduce the risk of litigation.
Other obligations to be included in the social plan
Out-placement programmes must be provided for a minimum of six months if the collective redundancy affects more than 50 employees.
Special social security contributions will be made for employees in the case of employees aged 55 years or above who did not make social security contributions prior to 1 January 1967 and who are included in a collective dismissal process which is not based on an insolvency. The employer must pay their contributions until they reach the age of 61 (in the case of economic grounds) or 63 (in the case of organisational, productive or technical grounds). The application of the special agreement must be made during the collective dismissal procedure.
An additional contribution to the Public Treasury must be paid by companies which make profits and carry out a collective dismissal that affects employees aged 50 or above.
Qualification of collective dismissal
Collective dismissals can be challenged collectively by workers’ representatives on the basis that:
Normally, the workers’ representatives only launch a claim against collective dismissal if the negotiation period concludes without an agreement.
The subsequent judgment may render the company’s decision as one of the following.
Termination of Top Executive Contracts
Top executives’ contracts, regulated by Royal Decree 1382/1985 of 1 August 1985, may be terminated as set out below.
Termination by the employer
The employer can terminate a top executive contract at any time without giving any reason. The company must deliver to the employee a termination letter stating the date of the termination, serve three months’ notice (or a longer notice if contractually agreed) or make payment in lieu of salary. The employee is entitled to the compensation agreed in the employment contract or, in its absence, the legal compensation of seven days’ salary per year of service subject to a limit of six months’ salary.
The employer can terminate a top executive contract for a serious breach of their contractual duties. The company must deliver to the employee a dismissal letter, which should include a detailed description of its reasons and the date of termination, which may be immediate. Should the employee challenge the dismissal and the labour court rules it to be unfair, the company will have to pay them severance equal to 20 days’ salary in cash per year of service with a limit of 12 months’ salary.
In the case of objective dismissal, the same procedure applicable to ordinary employees shall apply.
Termination by a top executive with severance entitlement
Top executives are entitled to terminate their contract at will with the right to receive:
A top executive may have to serve the employer with three months’ notice (or a longer period if agreed in their employment contract). Should this not be served, the employer will be entitled to be paid the salaries corresponding to the period in lieu of notice.
Statutory Severance of Temporary Contracts
Upon the termination of a temporary contract, due to the expiry of the time agreed or completion of the work or service subject to the temporary contract, employees are entitled to a severance payment equivalent to 12 days of salary per year of service (except in cases of replacement and training contracts).
This type of dismissal is based on an employee’s serious and wilful non-compliance with their contractual duties. Legal causes for dismissal must be proven by the employer and include the following:
Additional causes may be set out in applicable CBAs or individual employment agreements.
Unless further requirements are set out in an applicable CBA or an employment contract, the company shall terminate the employee concerned by way of a written letter of dismissal stating the date on which the termination takes effect as well as the grounds for dismissal. This type of dismissal will not entitle the employee to statutory severance pay.
Should the employee be an employee legal representative or a union delegate, a contradictory procedure shall be opened in which the affected employee and works council shall be heard. Should the employee be affiliated to a union and the employer is aware of that, it must give a prior hearing to the union delegates.
Disciplinary dismissal is the most serious sanction that a company may impose on an employee and is subject to a statute of limitation of 60 days, as from the date on which the breaches became known to the employer or six months from the date on which the breaches took place.
An employment relationship can be terminated by mutual agreement between the employer and the employee. The advantage of this route is that the parties are free to agree the terms and conditions of the termination unconstrained by statutory compensation. The drawback is that the employee shall not be entitled to collect unemployment benefits and the tax treatment of any compensation agreed will be impacted.
Apart from the above, when a company follows the dismissal route and the employee challenges the termination before the conciliation authorities or a labour court, the parties will have the chance to settle the case and avoid further disputes. For such purposes, the employee must file a conciliation claim within a maximum period of 20 working days from the effective date of termination. Thereafter, the parties shall attend a hearing in which they will have the opportunity to settle the dismissal.
Upon completion of the conciliation process, the officials will issue the relevant minutes of the hearing. Should the conciliation process end without an agreement, the employer will have to submit the relevant judicial claim before the labour courts if it wants to pursue its claim, and the court will have to admit the claim and schedule a judicial conciliation hearing and trial. Nevertheless, the parties will have an opportunity to reach an agreement before judgment is issued.
Certain groups of employees are especially protected from dismissal. These include:
Courts are very protective towards these employees, and dismissals affecting them are presumed to be contrary to their fundamental rights unless otherwise evidenced by the company. If the employer is unable to provide objective criteria and adduce strong and sound evidence to justify termination, the dismissal will be rendered null and void. This will entail an obligation on the part of the employer to reinstate the employee so affected and pay to them a procedural salary (ie, the salary accrued from the date of termination up to the reinstatement date).
See 7.2 Notice Periods.
It is unlawful to directly or indirectly discriminate against employees or potential employees on the grounds of sex, marital status, age, race, ethnic or racial origin, social status, religious or political beliefs, sexual orientation or identity, trade union membership, language or disability, or against employees who have familial relationships with the employer.
Filing Claims
Employees who believe that they have been discriminated against may file a claim against such discriminatory treatment and be awarded compensatory damages. The burden of proof lies with the employer, which should objectively and sufficiently demonstrate that the decision was not based on discriminatory grounds. If the court finds evidence of discrimination, the judgment may provide for compensation and nullify the company’s discriminatory action, order the immediate cessation of the discriminatory action and order the reinstatement of the employee under the same conditions that applied prior to the episode of discrimination. If an employee’s termination of employment is nullified, the employee will be reinstated to their role and be paid the salary accrued – but not paid – from the termination date for the length of the judicial process.
The prejudicial treatment of employees on the basis that they requested that their rights be upheld or have reported anomalies within the company is not permitted. Any sort of claim (which need not be a judicial claim) may be sufficient to argue the existence of retaliation, even if done through an informal procedure. Dismissals and any other detrimental employment measures adopted on the basis of retaliation shall be null and void. The affected employee can also claim for damages.
In cases of discrimination, the company may be sanctioned with:
Legislation on Gender and Sexual Equality
The Spanish Government has approved two Royal Decrees related to equality between men and women in companies.
In addition of the above, the Spanish government has approved Law 4/2023, which implied the obligation of companies with more than 50 employees to implement a protocol to act against any type of harassment or violence towards the LGBT+ community. The effective date for the implementation of the LGBT+ plan was 2 March 2024, and the conditions must be negotiated with the legal representatives of the employees.
Article 230 of the Organic Law of the Judiciary had a general rule that courts and tribunals should use any available technology to do their work and exercise their functions. However, the COVID-19 pandemic made it necessary to adopt more specific measures for this purpose.
Law 3/2020 of 18 September 2020 established that, whenever possible, courts and tribunals should use electronic means to carry out trials, hearings, statements, and other procedural acts. This law applied only as long as there was a health crisis scenario in our country.
This measure, the effectiveness of which was subject to the existence of a health crisis in our country, ceased to be in force on 4 July 2023 with the publication of Order SND/726/2023, which contained the Agreement of the Council of Ministers declaring the end of the health crisis situation caused by COVID-19.
Judicial proceedings deal with several areas of conflict. These include ordinary dismissals, collective conflicts, the breach of fundamental rights, holidays, workers’ representative elections, professional classifications, amendment of working conditions, geographical mobility and social security.
Depending on the geographical scope of the claim and/or the number of employees impacted, different competent courts deal with the matters raised.
Prior to the filing of a judicial claim, there is a general requirement to file a claim for conciliation (some matters are excluded from this preliminary conciliation hearing).
Collective matters are subject to a compulsory mediation process. If that ends without agreement, the parties may expressly agree to submit the collective case to arbitration as an alternative to the judicial process.
Pre-dispute arbitration agreements are not enforceable in Spain.
Under Spanish employment law, employees are beneficiaries of so-called free justice; they are entitled to an appointed lawyer, free of charge. In view of this, there can be no award of legal fees.
A judgment may impose costs on the prevailing party in an appeal, except where the party enjoys the benefit of free justice or in the case of unions or public officials or statutory personnel. Such costs shall include the fees of the lawyer of the opposing party that had acted in the appeal with a maximum of EUR1,200 in the appeal phase before the superior court and EUR1,800 in the appeal phase before the Supreme Court.
The above does not apply in cases involving collective conflict; each party is responsible for its own costs. However, the court may impose the payment of costs on any party that has acted with recklessness or bad faith.
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