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Spain recently experienced some of the worst flooding in decades. Now, the country has approved a new type of paid leave to keep workers safe.
Where in the world? On Nov. 29, Spain enacted “paid climate leave,” which provides up to four days off to workers during weather emergencies, the Guardian reported.
The legislation came swiftly after the October floods in Valencia, on the country’s east coast, when hundreds of office workers were trapped after their employers required them to report to the office, despite the government warnings to stay home. “This was a climate disaster that turned into a labor disaster because of the negligence of employers and the Valencian government,” Esther Lynch, general secretary of the European Trade Union Confederation, said.
Moving forward, employers must allow workers to stay home without penalty if authorities issue weather-related stay-at-home orders. Employers may also grant longer absences, but must cover the associated costs for additional leave, according to EuroNews. Companies must also develop climate disaster action plans in the next year, and outline how employees will be notified in case of a disaster.
“The climate risks are not the same for a worker who works in a construction company or outdoors as they are for a worker who, for example, works in an infirmary or a library,” Yolanda Díaz, second deputy minister and minister of labor and social economy, said.
Satellite view. The US economy lost $934.7 billion over the last decade due to climate change, and employers lose roughly 2.5 billion hours in labor every year due to climate-related disasters. This fall, Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated communities, and cost tens of thousands of lost jobs—leading workplace experts to suggest employers take more responsibility before disaster strikes. Companies can provide specific plans and benefits for weather-related emergencies, including PTO or financial benefits, such as relocation assistance or temporary housing.
“Planning ahead and incorporating climate change protection into their EVP [employee value proposition] enables organizations not just to offset major work disruptions, but also to make the ways they support employees an explicit part of why employees want to work there,” Emily Rose McRae, senior director analyst of HR at Garner, said in a blog post.