The employee worked for a delivery company in Alicante, Spain. Her contract stipulated a 7:30 h start time, but she consistently arrived at the company from 6:45 h. In 2023, company management issued multiple reminders, both verbal and written, instructing her to adhere to the designated work hours.

However, the employee disregarded these warnings and continued to arrive early on 19 additional occasions, even after receiving a formal reprimand. She also repeatedly attempted to log into the work management application before the designated start time.

Illustration photo: As

At a recent preliminary court hearing, the company argued that her early arrival was "not beneficial" and hindered overall operations. Supervisors stated they could not assign tasks during that time because the workflow depended on other colleagues' prior preparation. Her unauthorized early work was deemed "disrupting team coordination" and interrupting general workflow.

The employee defended her actions, claiming she needed extra time due to a heavy workload. However, she failed to provide the court with convincing evidence to support this claim.

In addition to the timekeeping violations, she was also accused of unilaterally selling a used company oto without authorization.

The judge determined that her continuous defiance regarding work hours demonstrated indiscipline. According to Spanish Labor Law, insubordination, non-compliance with directives, and repeated offenses constitute a legal basis for dismissal without compensation.

Labor law expert Alberto Paya stated that the ruling underscores the importance of trust and adherence to internal regulations between employees and businesses.

The incident sparked a wave of debate on Spanish social media. Many were surprised by this unusual dismissal. "They get angry if you're late, and they fire you if you're early. At my workplace, my boss would probably erect a statue if an employee was this diligent," one user commented.

Currently, the former employee still has the right to appeal to the Supreme Court of the Valencia region.

By Bao Nhien (Source: As, Sun)