Employers in Spain can reduce employees' salaries for time lost due to delays.

The Supreme Court of Spain has ruled that employers can deduct from employees' salaries the time they are late to work, thus clarifying a practice disputed by unions. According to the Workers' Statute, salary represents payment for actual work performed, which means that employees who work less, including due to delays, can be paid less.

This decision was made after a case from a call center company that implemented a timekeeping system to record working hours. The employer began to deduct from salaries the time of lateness, considering it as not performed.

Unions, especially the General Confederation of Labor, contested this measure, arguing that it represents a hidden penalty, given that the collective contract already provided for penalties for lateness. This decision has generated controversy and discussions among employees and employers in Spain.