In France, the government is asking employers to set, as of Monday, January 3, and “Three weeks, a minimum of three telework days per week for positions that allow it”. And when possible “This number can be increased to four days a week”. Is teleworking abroad also very widespread?
In Spain, the culture of presenteeism
In Spain there is no obligation, large companies do little, small ones much less. The law was amended to facilitate teleworking, but in practice it is not yet widespread. We can frankly speak of failure. A collective failure, policies, companies, unions is also likely. The proportion of active Spanish workers who worked remotely for at least half of their time, three days a week for example, was 8% in the third quarter of 2021, according to data from an observatory under the Ministry of the Economy. But the worst thing is that this proportion of teleworking is in constant decline. It was 16% in the second quarter of 2020, therefore double the current rate, 11% in the first quarter of 2021 and 9% in the second quarter.
For this failure, there is no identified root cause. The newspaper The confidential took a look at the matter, interviewing experts and economic agents. Among the avenues of reflection is what is called the culture of presenteeism: you have to be sitting in your chair at the office for your boss to see you, even if you are more productive at home. There is also the size of the companies. Spain is, together with Italy and Malta, one of the European countries with the most micro-enterprises, with less than ten employees. Precisely who has more difficulties to install teleworking. Therefore, the regulation is by no means restrictive. The law that came into force in February 2021 only talks about encouraging teleworking … and the government recalled that this was in no way an obligation, neither of the worker nor of the employer.
In the absence of facilitating teleworking for Spaniards, the country wants to attract teleworking from foreigners. These are the so-called digital nomads that different regions want to attract. First, there were individual initiatives. Municipalities on the coast, Benidorm, Barcelona, sunny islands or regions, the Canary Islands, Andalusia, have launched campaigns on the subject. Allows you to fill hotels or tourist apartments. And then, three weeks ago, the central government passed a business creation law that includes a full specific component. The bill establishes a simplified procedure for obtaining visas and residence permits for teleworking for highly qualified workers, says the Minister of Economy, Nadia Calviño. They may also benefit from the non-resident income tax regime for a maximum period of five years. These are important steps to attract digital nomads to our country. «
Tax advantages, therefore, and a simplified bureaucracy. It should be noted that Spanish expatriates for five years can also enjoy these advantages if they return to the country to establish their activity.
In the UK, there is no obligation, but there is a recommendation.
Teleworking has returned to the UK since last December to contain the “Omicron Variant Tidal Wave” according to Boris Johnson. Working from home in English is not mandatory and never has been. But the prime minister’s tone has changed since the first confinement. By 2020, the message was clear: work from home unless impossible. Today the message is blurred: work from home if you can, go to work if you need to. The government only recommends that those who have to work get tested regularly, but it does not make it mandatory. Wales is an exception in the UK, where teleworking is compulsory. Companies face a fine of £ 1000 and employees £ 60.
The announcement of the return to teleworking was very well received by the public and employees. The same happens with politicians, although some do not stop making fun of the government that authorized Christmas parties between friends and colleagues, as tradition dictates. Conservative deputies, initially hostile to the restrictions, rebelled more against the health pass than against teleworking. The government claims that the UK has one of the least restrictive systems in Europe. On the business side, they are adapting. Most do not close their facilities to allow employees access to their work tools. But all you have to do is walk around town to find that offices are empty, many stores and restaurants are closed, and gyms are in great need.
The government was already thinking about teleworking before the pandemic, but of course circumstances precipitated things. In September, the government decided that an employee could apply to his employer to telecommute as soon as he was hired. Whereas before, it had to spend at least 6 months in a box before sending such an order. By 2020, just over a third of workers had tried telecommuting, according to a British study.
Several positive trends can be observed: more than half of women believe their careers have improved, older employees are willing to postpone retirement, and companies are emphasizing the well-being of their employees. Finally, to end on a light note: in September, the British, back at the office on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, made Thursday night “Thirsty Thursday.” It is Thursday, no longer Friday, that we meet, in the evening, for a beer at the bar.
