A Spanish office worker has been fired for a habit most bosses would normally celebrate – turning up far too early
The 22-year-old employee had been warned repeatedly since 2023 to stop arriving between 6.45am and 7am, a full 40 minutes before her shift was due to start.
But despite being told she wasn’t allowed to clock in or begin work ahead of her 7.30am start time, she kept showing up at dawn with nothing to do.
Her boss eventually lost patience and fired her for serious misconduct, arguing that her relentless early-bird routine meant she wasn’t actually contributing to the company – only ignoring instructions.
The woman appealed to the Social Court of Alicante, insisting the dismissal was unjustified.
But judges heard she had ploughed on with her routine even after multiple verbal and written warnings, racking up 19 more early arrivals.
On some days, she even tried to log in through the company app before she’d reached the office.
Her employer also accused her of a separate breach of trust – selling a used company car battery without permission – which the court said added to the pattern of disloyalty.
In its ruling, the court backed the company, stressing that the issue wasn’t her ‘excessive punctuality’ but her stubborn refusal to obey workplace rules – a serious breach under Article 54 of the Spanish Workers’ Statute.
The case has sparked a lively debate on social media, where many were baffled that turning up early could get someone fired.
Employment experts, however, note that firms are entitled to enforce strict access rules once they have been made clear.
The woman may still appeal to the Supreme Court of Valencia, but for now the judgement stands.
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