In Spain, regulations regarding the monitoring of working hours have taken a radical turn with the entry into force of the new Timekeeping Law. Published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), this legislation requires all companies to digitally record their employees’ working hours. Its main objective is to ensure proper management of working time and protect labor rights, avoiding abuses and errors in timekeeping.
However, the implementation of this law has raised many questions about its scope and how companies should adapt to comply with its requirements. Below, we explain the key changes and how to ensure your business complies with the regulations.
Who does this regulation affect?
This regulation is mandatory for all companies, regardless of their size or sector. Its purpose is to reduce the risks of labor exploitation and promote a fairer and more transparent work environment.
One of the most significant aspects is the elimination of paper-based time clocking systems. Now, the work record must be digital, allowing for more accurate and accessible control.
Main changes to the time record
Far from being a simple disciplinary control system, the new regulations seek to guarantee compliance with the maximum working week of 37.5 hours, ensuring that overtime is correctly recorded and compensated.
To do this, companies must implement digital tools that allow employees to record their work in a simple and accessible way. This can be done through:
✅ Corporate mobile applications
✅ Desktop-based time clocking systems
✅ Messaging applications such as WhatsApp or Telegram
✅ Electronic time clocking machines
Records must be stored and safeguarded for at least four years, ensuring their availability for labor inspections and audits.
How to choose the best timekeeping method for your company?
The law requires that timekeeping be done digitally, but leaves room for each company to choose the most appropriate solution for its needs. Some common options include:
- Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Telegram, email): Ideal for small businesses or employees with flexible schedules.
- Specialized mobile apps: Allow workers to clock in from anywhere, ideal for companies with remote work or mobile teams.
- Desktop systems: These work well in offices, offering detailed control and Centralized.
- Physical time clocks: Although less common, they are still used in some companies.
Each company must choose the tool that best suits its operations, always ensuring data accessibility for employees and compliance with the law.
Penalties for non-compliance: what are the risks?
Failure to comply with regulations can have significant financial consequences. Fines for failing to record working hours or recording them incorrectly have increased and can reach thousands of euros.
Furthermore, each violation is recorded individually. This means that if a company with 20 employees does not keep proper time records, it could face 20 different sanctions, which would have a considerable financial impact.
Beyond the risk of sanctions, adapting your company to this regulation is an opportunity to improve time management, increase transparency, and strengthen a more organized and fair work environment.
Conclusion
The new The digital time clocking law is not only a legal obligation, but a key tool for optimizing time management and improving the relationship between companies and employees. Adopting an appropriate registration system not only helps you comply with regulations but also contributes to greater efficiency and equity in the workplace.
📩 If you haven’t yet implemented a digital time clocking system in your company, now is the time to do so. Contact us and we’ll help you adapt to the regulations.
