Losing your job means having to look for new offers, update your resume, and attend interviews. However, many workers are unaware that the Workers' Statute recognizes a paid leave to facilitate job searching before the employment relationship ends.
Article 53.2 of this regulation establishes that employees affected by an objective dismissal have the right to six free and paid hours per week during the notice period to find another job. This time does not imply a salary reduction and is intended for them to organize their job search while still linked to the company.
This right does not apply to all dismissals. It is intended for contract terminations due to objective causes, such as economic, technical, organizational, or production reasons, and must be distinguished from disciplinary dismissals.
Who is entitled to six hours per week to look for work?
The leave is intended for workers who receive an objective dismissal and are within the notice period. According to the Workers' Statute, the company must communicate the decision in writing and grant, as a general rule, 15 days' notice before the contract ends.
During that time, the employee can use six hours per week to look for another job without that time being deducted from their salary. It is not a leave that must be made up later, but a right recognized by labor legislation.
The measure seeks to facilitate the transition to another job and give the worker time to prepare interviews, consult offers, and carry out the necessary procedures before becoming unemployed.
The leave is linked to the notice of objective dismissal
The six hours per week can be used during the 15 days' notice established by law for this type of dismissal. Therefore, it is important to check what cause of termination appears in the communication delivered by the company, as not all dismissals allow access to this measure.
The Workers' Statute also includes other guarantees for employees affected by an objective dismissal. Among them is, in general, compensation of 20 days' salary per year worked, with a maximum of 12 monthly payments, provided that the corresponding legal conditions are met.
In addition, the worker can challenge the company's decision if they consider that the dismissal does not comply with the law. To do this, it is advisable to review the dismissal letter and consult with a labor professional or with the workers' representatives if there are doubts about their rights.
How to use the hours to find another job
The leave allows dedicating part of the working day to the necessary steps to look for work. The worker can use that time to prepare for interviews, contact companies, review offers, or carry out procedures related to their incorporation into another position.
It is advisable to talk to the company to organize the enjoyment of the hours during the notice period and to record the agreements on the schedules. The rule recognizes the right to have that time without losing salary, although its application must be adjusted to the circumstances of each case.
In short, knowing the Workers' Statute can help those facing an objective dismissal to prepare their next professional step without giving up part of their salary. Before taking for granted that one is entitled to the leave, it is essential to verify that the dismissal and its conditions fit within what is established by law.
