In the coming year, changes are set to shape how workers request paid leave to miss work. The changes appear primarily in Article 37 of the Workers Statute and affect both the rights workers enjoy and how employers plan staffing around those leaves.
The first change, prompted by the climate event known as la dana, has already been approved. It recognizes up to four days off when it is impossible to reach the workplace because authorities recommend or restrict travel, or when a severe risk from a disaster or weather event makes leaving home unsafe.
In line with the European directive on work life balance, the government has committed to paying four of the eight weeks required for parental leave. In addition, maternity or paternity leave will be extended from 16 to 20 weeks, and the government will address ensuring that single parent families can access the full duration of that leave.
Already recognized in prior years are the following entitlements:
- 15 calendar days for marriage or civil partnership registration.
- 5 days for serious accidents or illnesses involving the spouse, civil partner, or relatives up to the second degree by blood or affinity, including those living with the employee.
- 4 days per year for force majeure when urgent family matters require immediate presence due to illness or accident.
- 2 days for the death of a spouse, civil partner, or close relatives up to the second degree; if travel is necessary, two additional days may be granted.
- 1 day for moving the habitual residence.
- Time available to fulfill an indispensable public and personal duty, such as voting.
- Time for performing union activities or employee representation as permitted by law or contract.
- Time for prenatal exams and pregnancy preparation, or in cases of adoption or fostering, to attend the required informational sessions and the preparatory steps before determining eligibility.
- Time indispensable for the preparatory acts of organ or tissue donation.
- Lactation leave.
- Paid training leave of 20 hours for employees who have completed at least one year with the company, which can be accumulated up to five years (100 hours).