Working Hours
Spanish law caps the workday at 9 hours and the week at 40 hours. In practice, many employees work toward the higher end. The legal maximum overtime is 80 hours per year and must be compensated.
Work Culture Series · Spain
How Spain became one of Europe's boldest laboratories for rethinking the relationship between work, time, and wellbeing — and what it means for workers today.
By the numbers
Work Culture
Spanish law caps the workday at 9 hours and the week at 40 hours. In practice, many employees work toward the higher end. The legal maximum overtime is 80 hours per year and must be compensated.
The traditional Spanish schedule runs roughly 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, breaks for a siesta, then resumes from 4:30–5 PM until 8 PM. This split-day structure is distinct across Europe and shapes Spain's work-life rhythm.
By law, workers in Spain are entitled to a minimum of 30 calendar days of paid leave per year — plus 14 paid public holidays. August is the peak vacation month, and unused days expire December 31st unless agreed otherwise.
As of mid-2022, approximately 2.6 million of Spain's 20.5 million employed workers are part-time. Women make up around 72% of part-time workers, reflecting broader structural dynamics in the Spanish labour market.
Daily Schedule
OECD Better Life Index
Work-Life Balance — Spain
Rated Excellent
OECD Better Life Index
On the OECD Better Life Index, Spain earns an 8.0 out of 10 for work-life balance — placing it among the better performers in Europe. This score reflects factors including time devoted to leisure and personal care, the share of employees working very long hours, and general life satisfaction surveys.
Despite averaging longer hours than some northern European neighbours, Spain's cultural emphasis on family, food, and leisure contributes to strong subjective wellbeing scores.
Remote Work Trends
Government Position · Updated 2025
The Spanish government approved a bill to reduce the standard work week from 40 to 37.5 hours — a significant step toward shorter working time norms. However, in September 2025, the Spanish Congress rejected the bill by a narrow vote of 178–170. Negotiations on a revised bill are ongoing, keeping Spain at the forefront of European work-time reform debates.