Spain : judiciary rules that replacing employees by automation is not valid grounds for employment termination

The Las Palmas Social Chamber (Canary Islands) has ruled against the objective economic grounds that a hospitality sector business invoked in order to terminate an employee’s contract, some of whose tasks had been replaced by automated administrative software, and if upheld the payment for which would have been 20 days compensation for every career year worked. The ruling found that the termination of employment could not be based on objective economic grounds and that automating tasks in order to lower costs was effectively ‘reducing the right to work in order to increase company freedoms’, and as such terminating employment in this situation constituted a termination without objective economic grounds warranting compensation of up to 33 days per career year.
Enjoy this article for free while you’re in your trial period
You have access to our content for 1 month.

The ruling concerns a situation from March 2019 when the hotel chain Lopesan Hotel Management SL, on Grand Canaria Island terminated the employment contract of an employee who had been working in the group’s accounting division for 13 years since 2006. The employee’s employment termination occurred three months after the company bought robotic process automation (Jidoka) software, specialized in recovery payments management, in December 2018. In justifying the employment termination, Lopesan ma

Do you have information to share with us?
What you absolutely must read this week
The essential content of the week selected by the editorial team.
See all
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
United Kingdom: Parliament finally passes Employment Rights Bill
The UK Labour government's flagship reform of employment rights was passed by both houses on 16 December after a turbulent parliamentary process. The bill introduces numerous changes to labour...
18 December 2025
EU: social partners in telecoms sign joint statement on AI
On 16 December, the social partners in Europe's telecommunications sector unveiled a joint statement on artificial intelligence. They propose an action plan for skills and commit to raising...
18 December 2025
EU: MEPs demand directive on algorithmic management
Members of the European Parliament have called for a directive on algorithmic management. Such legislation would introduce obligations for companies to inform employees, assess health and safety...
17 December 2025
Most viewed articles of the month on mind HR
What readers clicked on the most last month.
What readers clicked on the most last month.
1
Spain: new terms and conditions for in-company training contracts
On 25 November, Spain's Council of Ministers approved a regulation on training contracts. This text defines the terms and conditions for hosting work-study students and interns doing professional...
2
EU: Commission issues first recommendation on human capital as part of European Semester
In parallel with the European Semester adopted on 25 November, which proposes guidelines to member states on economic policies for the coming year, the European Commission has adopted an...
3
France: sectors feel economic slowdown to differing degrees
The latest data on France’s occupational sectors (branches professionnelles), covering the year 2023, show how employment trends are shaping workplace dynamics. After a more favourable period for...
4
Germany: apprenticeship openings fall sharply in manufacturing and chemicals
From 1 January 2026, Dutch collective agreements for temporary employment agencies will alter the employment conditions of temp workers. Agencies will be required to pay these workers at least the...