The information in this blog is taken from "The Costa Blanca News"
According to research by Eurostat, full -time employees in Spain work 232 hours a year more than anyone else on the continent, and yet Spain is the least productive nation in Europe.
Long lazy lunches, siestas, and coffee breaks have taken the toll on the economy. Now there is a Commission in Spain which does not see the sense in traditional 40-minute "breakfast break" often leading to a mass exodus in the office and nobody to attend to customers. An hour, or even less, is plenty enough for lunch and more than adequate time to eat a healthy meal. It also adds that working hours should be more flexible to suit the individual. "Sieasta hour" is bad for business.
If the Commission For Reasonable Working Hours has its way, it will probably have a fight on its hands in areas where traditions prevails. Business owners outside the major cities and tourist areas will resist such radical changes. One cafe owner in Oliva was asked why he closed at 13.00 untill 17.00 on weekdays.
"Because that's lunchtime and we want to have our lunch".
Surprisingly, a number of expats are actually in favour of keeping business hours just as they are. They believe they came here as guests and should accept life as the Spanish wish to have it.
Life has gradually eroded in the UK for the workers and their families as hours were extended and contracts adjusted to cover new hours. Shopping has become a leisure activity for the English, instead of spending quality time with the family. In Spain people seem to lead a real family life. It's annoying when you realise a certauin shop is shut for siesta, but overall it's a better quality of life here, and you can cope with it.
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