- A Spanish worker was fired for repeatedly arriving 40 minutes before her start time
- She ignored multiple verbal and written warnings to adhere to the 7:30 am contract time
- The court ruled her dismissal fair due to refusal to follow workplace rules and misconduct
A worker in Spain was fired for repeatedly arriving at the office 40 minutes early, despite multiple verbal and written warnings from her boss to adhere to her contracted start time of 7:30 am. According to Metro, the 22-year-old logistics worker consistently arrived at the office between 6:45 am and 7:00 am - 40 minutes before she was due in. The employee had been warned repeatedly since 2023 to stop arriving early but continued the behaviour, arriving early at least 19 more times after formal cautions.
Her boss eventually ran out of patience and fired her for serious misconduct, claiming her constant early arrivals meant she was disregarding instructions and not truly contributing to the company.
Unjustified Dismissal?
The woman took her case to the Social Court of Alicante, arguing that her dismissal was unfair. However, the court heard she had continued her early-arrival routine despite multiple verbal and written warnings, showing up early 19 more times. On several occasions, she even attempted to log in via the company app before physically arriving at the office.
Adding to the concerns, her employer also accused her of breaching trust by selling a used company car battery without authorisation. The court sided with the employer, emphasising that the problem wasn't her "excessive punctuality," but her persistent refusal to follow workplace rules -- a serious violation under Article 54 of Spain's Workers' Statute.
Online Debate
The case has sparked significant debate online, with many people questioning why excessive punctuality would be a reason for dismissal. However, employment experts noted that companies are generally entitled to enforce strict working hours and access rules once they are clearly communicated.
The woman may still appeal to the Supreme Court of Valencia.
Earlier this year, a woman from Florida named Alice shared a frustrating experience that sparked a heated debate online. She revealed that she was fired from a new job before even starting. Alice posted on the Jobs subreddit on Reddit, explaining that the company withdrew their job offer after she didn't show up on her supposed first day, September 2. The issue? Her official offer email clearly stated her start date as September 22.
