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This state of teleworking in Spain: how companies adapted in record time and many regulatory doubts

| News | Employment Law and Social Security

Alfredo Aspra analyses teleworking in Spain, a new way of organising work that companies have had to adopt in record time, in El Economista

The irruption of teleworking in the Spanish job market has been a challenge for companies, which have adapted in record time to this new way of organizing work.

Alfredo Aspra, employment lawyer and partner at Andersen, highlights the speed with which companies have implemented teleworking because of the coronavirus crisis. "The adaptation has been spectacular, extremely fast and efficient. It is true that many companies are already covering certain expenses, such as computers," he points out. However, Aspra considers that there are still many aspects that need to be regulated. "Now the debate that is most in the spotlight is who pays for what, such as electricity, internet, space or computer materials. I think we need to find a certain balance," says Aspra.

In his opinion, the trade unions' negotiations "are based on a mistake, which is that they want teleworking to be an extension of the rights they already have," he said. Therefore, Alfredo Aspra, who advises many companies, believes that "what we have to start with is a social dialogue to find a consensual response and a balance”.

As an example, the employment lawyer believes that "it does not make much sense that the unions are already raising collective conflicts because they want to continue charging for restaurant bills or transportation expense receipts and, furthermore, they want the company to pay for their electricity or internet connection.

Alfredo Aspra indicates that the greatest concern of his clients is in the conciliation and the schedules. "It is obvious that we have to regulate the schedules. Companies are concerned with this issue and how to distribute time," he explains. "It's all very well to telework from home but what can't be done is to turn this into a 24-hour job. People must have their spaces and their times as well. Having the office in your home reaches a point where your life is conditioned," he adds.

The lawyer points out that there are already cases of workers who demand to return to their offices and argue that teleworking has dynamited their personal lives. "It is a reflection that leads us to think that not all cases are the same. In the end, I believe that telework can never be above the power of management and organization. Companies will clearly not go back on this but will use it as a way of attracting talent", he concludes.

You can see the full article in El Economista.

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