With the current discussions ongoing in relation to Croke Park II and the increasing of working hours for public sector workers, authorities in Spain have taken a different approach. In today's Irish Times, it is reported that Spain’s long working hours, late nights and fondness for bank holidays are costing it dear, according to an organisation campaigning for the country to radically change how it uses its time.
Most shops and businesses are open from about 10.00 am until 8.00 pm, with many taking a three-hour break between 2.00 pm and 5.00 pm. The National Commission for the Rationalisation of Working Hours is dedicated to persuading politicians Spain should get in line with its European neighbours when it comes to waking, eating, working and sleeping.
The commission’s president, Ignacio Buqueras, believes late lunches, suppers and bedtimes are not just bad for the economy, but also for Spaniards’ personal lives. His organisation suggests Spaniards shorten their working day, beginning at 7.30 am-9.00 am and clocking off at 4.30 pm-6.00 pm, with only a short lunch break. It also wants the country to cut down on its frequent midweek days off, believing they also hinder the economy.
Spain has 12 bank holidays scheduled for 2013, compared to Ireland's nine and eight in the UK. Mr Buqueras is particularly concerned by the Spanish habit of creating recreational puentes (bridges): if a holiday falls on a Wednesday, for example, many people will take the Thursday and Friday off too. The government of Mariano Rajoy proposed moving midweek bank holidays to Mondays or Fridays but has delayed the change, perhaps mindful of how voters cherish extra-long weekends.
Another worry for those seeking to overhaul Spain’s timekeeping customs is the phenomenon known as presentismo – literally “being present” – whereby workers spend long hours in the office to impress their superiors without necessarily doing much.
This is an interesting take on their economic woes with the commission focusing more on quality and not quantity of time spent in work. This is a frequent issue for employers when analysing workloads, with the rationalisation and restructuring of businesses to make them leaner and more efficient. However employers should be careful to ensure that any overhaul of working practices are done in consultation with employees in order to prevent issues down the line such as claims for constructive dismissal, or indeed unfair selection for redundancy.
Please take a look at our quick poll below to determine how many people have undergone change in their working patterns or changed jobs within the last two years.
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