Early bird gets the sack: Woman in Spain fired after repeatedly arriving early for work



 

A 22-year-old woman in Spain was fired for repeatedly arriving at work far earlier than her scheduled start time. Although punctuality is usually seen as a positive trait, her employer said her behaviour went against company rules and instructions.

The employee’s workday officially began at 7:30 a.m., but for nearly two years she regularly arrived between 6:45 and 7:00 a.m. Her employer told the court that she was not allowed to clock in or start working before her shift and that her early arrival did not benefit the company.

Over the two-year period, the company gave her several verbal and written warnings, asking her to follow the official working hours. Despite these warnings, she continued to arrive early on at least 19 occasions and even tried to log into the company’s work app before reaching the office.

The employer eventually dismissed her for serious misconduct, arguing that her actions showed a refusal to follow workplace rules. The company also accused her of selling a used company car battery without permission, which further damaged trust between the two sides.

The employee challenged the dismissal, but the Social Court of Alicante ruled in favour of the employer. The court said the issue was not “excessive punctuality” but disobedience to workplace policies. The ruling may still be appealed to a higher court.

Source : https://www.straitstimes.com/world/europe/early-bird-gets-the-sack-woman-fired-for-arriving-40-minutes-early-for-work

Comprehension

Why was the employee fired from her job?
What time was her workday supposed to start?
How long did she continue arriving early despite warnings?
What additional action did the company accuse her of doing without permission?
What was the court’s final decision in the case?

Discussion

Do you think arriving early at work should ever be a problem? Why or why not?
Should employees always follow company rules, even if they believe they are helping?
How important is communication between employers and employees in situations like this?
Do you agree with the court’s decision? Explain your opinion.
What qualities make someone a good employee besides punctuality?

Vocabulary

Punctuality – the habit of arriving on time.
Insubordination – refusal to obey rules or authority.
Misconduct – bad or unacceptable behaviour at work.
Dismissed – officially fired from a job.
Appeal – a request for a higher court to review a decision.