January 22 update: Mobility continues to be complicated in Catalonia on January 22, with the Rodalies service still completely suspended and a major disruption on the AP-7 southbound from Martorell, so workers are advised to avoid unnecessary travel.
Getting around Barcelona and its metropolitan area today has become a real nightmare. The total paralysis of the Rodalies service has not only left platforms empty and bus stops with endless queues, but has also transferred the problem directly to offices and workplaces. The big question hovering over company chats today is clear: what happens if I can’t get there? And, above all, will I have to make up for lost time?
We explain the situation and the rights of Catalan workers on a day like today.
Do we have to make up the hours we “lose” today because we can’t get to work?
The official response from the employers’ association Foment del Treball leaves little room for doubt. According to Yesika Aguilar, the association’s director of labor relations, employees who are unable to get to work must negotiate with their company how to make up those hours.
Although the absence is considered justified if there are truly no reasonable transportation alternatives, Foment argues that the four days of paid leave that were activated after the recent DANA storm do not automatically apply in this Rodalies scenario.
Rodalies has issued an official justification following the rail chaos in Barcelona on Wednesday and Thursday.
Teleworking as the great ally of the day
In view of the chaos on the tracks, the recommendation from both institutions and small and medium-sized business associations is the same: turn on your computer at home. Antoni Cañete, president of PIMEC, has urged SMEs to facilitate teleworking or to make working hours more flexible so that the economic impact of the breakdown is as minimal as possible. Protecció Civil has taken a similar stance, reminding people that, on days when mobility is a puzzle, it is best to avoid unnecessary travel and prioritize safety.
However, it is not as simple as just opening your laptop. Trade unions such as CCOO point out that, according to the Workers’ Statute, if an employee is unable to access their workplace due to force majeure or recommendations from the authorities, their salary should not be affected. The conflict appears in the fine print, since while the regulations protect the salary, the obligation to make up for that time is subject to interpretation and to the “dialogue and flexibility” between employer and employee demanded by the employers’ association.
What to do if you are stuck on the platform
If you are one of those who has been staring at the black screens at the station, the first thing to do is to cover your back. Labor law experts recommend reporting the incident in writing to the company as soon as possible, even if it is only a delay. In the case of essential jobs or positions where a physical replacement is necessary, the situation is more rigid: it is only mandatory to stay beyond your shift if leaving your post poses a risk to the safety of the facilities or people.
For everyone else, today will be an exercise in patience and negotiation. Between crowded alternative buses and blocked roads, the reality is that the impact on productivity is inevitable, and managing this unforeseen event will ultimately depend on the goodwill and ability of each company to adapt to a Barcelona that, in terms of rail transport, has shut down for the day.