juanmalorentelaboralista

Spanish Labor Law: The Surprising Truth About Unpaid Medical Leave

Spanish Labor Law: Unpaid Leave for Medical Appointments Sparks Debate Madrid, Spain – A recent video by labor lawyer Juanma Lorente has brought to light a lesser-known aspect of Spanish labor law concerning paid leave for medical appointments, sparking discussion among employees and legal professionals. Lorente explains that under the current Workers' Statute, employers are legally permitted to deduct an employee's salary for time taken off work to attend routine medical consultations or tests. According to Lorente, while the Workers' Statute grants a paid day off for relocation, it does not provide a specific paid leave for non-emergency medical visits. "There is a paid day off for moving, but not a paid day off for going to the doctor, unless it's an emergency," Lorente stated in his video. He emphasized that this applies to routine consultations, not urgent medical situations. However, the lawyer noted a crucial exception: "In some collective agreements, medical hours are indeed included." These agreements can stipulate a limited number of paid hours that employees can use for medical appointments. If an employee's collective agreement does not include such provisions, the employer is not obligated to pay for the hours missed due to routine medical visits. Lorente openly expressed his personal disagreement with this legal framework, questioning the prioritization of moving leave over medical appointments. "This is something I honestly don't understand," he remarked. "That there is a day in the Workers' Statute for moving but not a day for going to consultations. The latter seems much more necessary to me." The video has prompted many to re-evaluate their understanding of employee rights regarding healthcare access during working hours.