Madrid, Spain – In a landmark decision, the High Court of Justice of Galicia has ruled that a company must compensate an employee for violating their right to digital disconnection. The court ordered the company to pay 300 euros to a security employee who received work-related emails outside of their established working hours. This pioneering judgment reinforces Article 88 of Spain's Organic Law on Personal Data Protection and Guarantee of Digital Rights, which explicitly grants workers and public employees the right to digital disconnection. This right ensures that outside of legal or conventionally established working hours, employees' time for rest, leave, vacations, and personal and family privacy is respected. While the employee had initially sought a higher compensation of over 7,500 euros, the court awarded 300 euros, acknowledging the violation of their rights. Legal experts view this ruling as a significant precedent, highlighting the growing importance of respecting employees' boundaries and the right to disconnect from work communications during their personal time. The decision sends a clear message to companies regarding their obligations under digital disconnection laws.
La ley ampara a los trabajadores para que no tengan que responder a mensajes fuera del horario laboral, especialmente durante sus días de descanso
