The Spanish working day and year

It is for anyone thinking about, planning or carrying out a move to Spain. Legal working hours, leave rights and public holiday dates are not covered here.

Start with "A typical Spanish working day hour by hour". It walks you through start, lunch, afternoon and finish, so you can picture your own day before you read the rest.

Key rules

• Weekly hours: The legal maximum for ordinary work stays at 40 hours a week on average over the year, and any shorter week comes from your collective agreement.
• Schedule adaptation: If you ask to adapt your hours to care for a child up to 12 years old or another dependant, the company has at most 30 days to negotiate and then accept, propose an alternative or refuse with reasons.
• Vacation notice: Your vacation dates must be fixed and made known to you at least two months before they start.
• Typical hours: Expect to start between 8:00 and 9:30 and finish between 17:30 and 19:00 on a split day.
• Lunch: Lunch is late, usually 13:30 to 15:00, and lasts 1 to 2 hours on a split day.
• Law: The law does not decide split or continuous days; your company, sector and convenio colectivo do.

The Spanish working day and year: the whole process, step by step

• Find out your daily schedule and how long your lunch break is (A typical Spanish working day hour by hour): Before your first day

• Check your collective agreement (convenio) to see whether you work a split or continuous day, and what your weekly hours are (Split day or continuous day: what decides your schedule): Before you sign or in your first week

• Learn what colleagues expect about staying late and leaving on time (Staying late and leaving on time: what colleagues expect): During your first weeks

• Plan around the busiest stretches: September to mid-December and mid-January to June (How the Spanish working year flows): From September onwards

• Book calls in mid-morning or mid-afternoon, Tuesday to Thursday, and set deadlines with extra margin (Scheduling calls and deadlines with Spanish colleagues and clients): Every time you schedule, with at least a few extra working days of margin

• Ask for your summer weeks, usually when requests are collected in spring (Asking for days off and flexibility without friction): Usually March to May

• Expect your vacation dates to be fixed and made known to you at least two months before they start (Asking for days off and flexibility without friction): At least two months before the vacation

• Switch to a continuous summer day if your workplace offers one (Split day or continuous day: what decides your schedule): Often from 15 June or 1 July until 31 August or 15 September

• Expect a quiet August, especially the first three weeks and around 15 August (How the Spanish working year flows): August

• If you have a child up to 12 years old or another dependant, ask to adapt your hours; the company has at most 30 days to negotiate and answer (Fitting a Spanish work schedule around family life): Whenever your care needs change

Documents you may need

• Your employment contract — Split day or continuous day: what decides your schedule

• The convenio colectivo named in your contract — Split day or continuous day: what decides your schedule

• The job offer — Split day or continuous day: what decides your schedule

The Spanish working day and year: questions that cross several articles

Does lunch change between a split and a continuous day?

Yes, on a split day lunch lasts 1 to 2 hours between 13:30 and 15:00, while on a continuous day you usually get only a 15 to 30 minute break. On a continuous day the main meal is eaten at home around 15:00 to 15:30. Read A typical Spanish working day hour by hour and Split day or continuous day: what decides your schedule.

Is a continuous day more common than a split day in Spain?

No, the split day with a long lunch is still the most common schedule in private-sector office work. Continuous days are widespread in public administration, banking, industry and education, and many more people get one in summer.

Can I get my summer holiday in August?

Maybe, because dates are agreed with your employer under your convenio and the company calendar, often by rotating the popular weeks or by seniority. August is the quietest month and some sectors close entirely. Read Asking for days off and flexibility without friction and How the Spanish working year flows.

Do I get a day off on a puente (bridge day)?

It depends on your company calendar or convenio, since some firms close and count the day against hours or vacation, and others stay open. A puente happens when a holiday falls on a Tuesday or Thursday. Read How the Spanish working year flows and Scheduling calls and deadlines with Spanish colleagues and clients.